Tuesday, August 19, 2008
CMU lab preschool earns accreditation
Central Michigan University's popular preschool program has achieved national accreditation. Housed in CMU's Human Growth and Development Laboratory, the program is one of the nation's first to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children under its revised accreditation standards.
"We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Margaret Desormes, associate director of the Human Growth and Development Lab. "NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible."
Serving children ages 3 through 5, the lab school offers three options: Head Start, the Michigan School Readiness Program and a tuition-based program. It is 75 percent grant-funded and serves as a training facility for CMU students enrolled in human development and family studies courses. Approximately 400 CMU students are involved in the lab as observers, classroom assistants and student teachers each year.
To earn accreditation in the NAEYC's new system, the Human Growth and Development Lab underwent an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the association's 10 new early childhood program standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. NAEYC assessors also conducted a site visit. The accreditation is valid until 2013.
Applications for the Human Growth and Development Lab are accepted on a rolling basis and can be completed online. The Head Start and School Readiness programs typically have a few openings for new children each year, while there is usually a waiting list for the tuition program. The lab school's capacity will increase by approximately 50 percent in fall 2009, when the center moves to CMU's new Education Building, which is currently under construction.
For additional news from Central Michigan University visit its online newsroom at http://www.news.cmich.edu.
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Photo above right: Central Michigan University's Human Growth and Development Laboratory preschool, which serves area children ages 3 through 5, recently became one of the nation's first programs to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children under its revised accreditation standards.
Photo by Peggy Brisbane
CMU Public Relations and Marketing
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