NAEYC strives to raise the quality of education for all children from birth through age eight. Accreditation systems are major part of NAEYC's efforts to improve early childhood education; they allow programs to provide the best learning experiences for young children and their educators by meeting national standards of quality.

Accreditation of Early Learning Programs

NAEYC accreditation is considered a gold standard in early childhood education. It reflects a commitment to quality and excellence in program practices. Programs that achieve NAEYC accreditation demonstrate a high level of preparedness in various areas, including staff qualifications, curriculum development, and parent engagement. Since 1985, NAEYC's national accreditation system has set professional standards for early childhood education programs, allowing families to find high-quality programs for their children.
Click here to find a NAEYC accredited early childhood program in your community.
PennAEYC is pleased to acknowledge the achievements of all NAEYC-Accredited centers in Pennsylvania.
NAEYC accreditation has long set the national standard for high-quality early learning programs. Now, with the updated Early Learning Program Quality Assessment & Accreditation system, we’ve made it even more accessible, streamlined, and aligned with best practices—all while maintaining the rigorous quality standards families, educators, and key decision-makers rely on.

Accreditation of Early Learning Programs

NAEYC accreditation has long set the national standard for high-quality early learning programs. Now, with the updated Early Learning Program Quality Assessment & Accreditation system, we’ve made it even more accessible, streamlined, and aligned with best practices—all while maintaining the rigorous quality standards families, educators, and key decision-makers rely on.
Interested in becoming a NAEYC accredited site? Visit NAEYC Visit NAEYC to find more information.

Benefits of being an NAEYC Accredited Program:

  • Helps to build a stronger team of teachers, administrators, and families working together to improve quality for children.
  • Improved standards for the overall program.
  • Recognition through NAEYC, including program listing on the NAEYC website in the Program Search section.
  • Announcement of program’s accreditation in the NAEYC Early Learning News weekly newsletter to programs, members, media, and others.
  • Use of NAEYC Accredited logo for marketing purposes Attracts more families to enroll their children at program.

 

The New Early Learning Program Accreditation System is Here!

Say hello to the brand-new NAEYC Accreditation system. Say goodbye to the enrollment, application, and candidacy process. Portfolios will be100% digital and you will move through new Accreditation tiers at a pace that works for your program.

Learn more about recent changes

A Three-Tiered Model for Broader Participation

The previous one-size-fits-all accreditation model has been replaced with a three-tiered approach to ensure greater accessibility while maintaining rigor:

 

 

 

 

 

Recognition

  •  Entry-level designation affirming foundational quality practices through documentation review.

Accreditation

  •  A full accreditation designation with documentation review and potential site visits.

Accreditation+

  •  Advanced level accreditation with guaranteed site visits and additional quality assurance measures.

 

Each tier supports continuous improvement, allowing programs to build upon their quality journey at their own pace.