Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation was recently awarded a prestigious accreditation for excellence at their Head Start centers in Jay and Lowrey.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation is a prestigious recognition that has only been achieved by seven percent of early childhood programs nation-wide.

"It is a great honor to receive a recognition of this magnitude," said Verna Thompson, Early Childhood Unit director. "It means that our Head Start centers are meeting national standards of excellence."

NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they meet national standards of excellence. There are approximately 19,000 programs engaged in seeking accreditation.

Jay and Lowrey Head Start centers had to undergo an intensive self-study, collecting information from parents, teachers, administrators and classroom observations. They received an on-site visit, conducted by early childhood professionals trained by NAEYC, to validate their self-study results. A team of national experts who grant or defer accreditation independently reviewed all of this information. The accreditation is valid for three years.

"The heart of NAEYC accreditation focuses on the child's experience," said Patty Kosterlistzkey, ECU education specialist. "The process considers all aspects of a program including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, and physical environment. The greatest emphasis is on the children's relationships with the staff and how the program helps each child grow and learn intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally."

According to Kosterlistzkey, research supports the value of accreditation for children. Children's language and social skills especially benefit from the better quality found in NAEYC accredited programs.

"These are critical areas for children's success in school as well as in life," Kosterlistzkey said.

The Jay and Lowrey Head Start Centers will now proudly display the NAEYC torch, the sign of NAEYC accreditation. Parents who look for the torch when choosing child care or early education programs for their children will find programs, which have made a commitment to excellence for young children and families.

Other Cherokee Nation Head Start centers have applied for NAEYC accreditation, and they will soon join Jay and Lowrey with this prestigious recognition.