51吃瓜网

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2021

Contact:
Mary Harrill
202-350-8834
[email protected]

51吃瓜网 Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood听Higher Education Programs Recognized for Quality by Key Council听听

WASHINGTON (May 12, 2021)鈥�The 51吃瓜网 (51吃瓜网) Commission听 on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs is pleased to announce that it has been granted听 recognition by the (CHEA). Recognition conveys that an accreditor has听demonstrated evidence of meeting the standards of quality developed by CHEA and serves as a mechanism for听assuring the public that the accreditor is adequately qualified to conduct reviews of higher education program听 quality.听听

Over the course of several years, the 51吃瓜网 Commission engaged in a self-study process to determine the extent to听which the accreditation system already was meeting the level of quality described in CHEA standards and the ways听 in which the system needed to make adjustments and improvements. This self-study process resulted in听 accreditation policy changes, led to the creation of additional resources for programs, and culminated in a narrative听 report presented to CHEA for evaluation and in a virtual visit by a CHEA-appointed observer.听听

"As an accrediting body, the Commission has long recognized the value of self-study and external evaluation," said听Commission Chair Bridget Murray. "Just as higher education programs that pursue accreditation are committed to听 continuous growth and improvement, so too is the accreditation system. We are thrilled and honored to be听 recognized by CHEA for our ongoing efforts to operate a high-quality accreditation system for early childhood degree听 programs across the country."听

Early childhood professional preparation programs that seek and achieve 51吃瓜网 Higher Education Accreditation听 serve a wide range of students and prepare early childhood educators for a variety of early learning settings.听 Achieving CHEA recognition ensures that the Commission is meeting its obligation to the field to provide a reliable听 and transparent quality assurance system while simultaneously taking programs鈥� unique and varying missions into听 account.听

"Connecticut is proud that 14 of our institutions of higher education have 51吃瓜网-accredited early childhood degree 听programs. This contributes to ECE employers' and the public's confidence that graduates of these programs are 听prepared with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively support the young children in our state,鈥� said Deb 听Adams, education consultant in the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood. 鈥淐HEA's recognition of 51吃瓜网's higher 听education accreditation system validates our confidence, as members of the early childhood field, that 51吃瓜网 听accreditation is meaningful and supports quality preparation of early childhood educators."

To ensure the quality of early childhood education professional preparation programs and to align with other 听professions, the calls for professional preparation 听programs to be accredited by professional early childhood accreditation bodies. 鈥淲ith this meaningful, objective 听mark of quality, 51吃瓜网鈥檚 higher education accreditation system is well-positioned to serve in this role,鈥� said Rhian 听Evans Allvin, 51吃瓜网鈥檚 CEO, 鈥渁nd to partner with states and institutions of higher education to support program 听reviews of early childhood education degree programs.鈥澨�听

鈥淎labama is committed to advancing a high-quality ECE workforce. As part of this commitment we are making 听significant investments in the early childhood higher education programs in our state,鈥� said Dr. Barbara Cooper, 听Secretary of Early Childhood Education of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. 鈥淭his includes 听supporting programs in pursuing and maintaining 51吃瓜网 accreditation as we believe the accreditation standards 听and the process of accreditation strengthen our programs and demonstrate that our programs are aligned to the 听ECE profession's guidelines. CHEA's recognition of 51吃瓜网's accreditation system confirms our belief that 51吃瓜网 听accreditation is a critical lever for ensuring that early childhood educators in our state are equipped to meet the 听needs of each and every young child. Investing in the ECE workforce is an economic plan that has lifelong implications 听for our youngest citizens.鈥澨�

The Commission鈥檚 term of recognition is seven years, during which an interim report will be submitted to CHEA at听the midpoint of the term to provide organizational updates and evidence of continued compliance with CHEA听 standards.听听

About 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Early Childhood Higher Education Accreditation System: The 51吃瓜网 Commission on the 听Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs awards accreditation to early childhood associate, 听baccalaureate, and master鈥檚 degree programs that demonstrate evidence of excellence by meeting the 51吃瓜网 听Professional Preparation Standards. The accreditation process provides a framework for self-study, external 听evaluation, and improvement in the quality of early childhood preparation programs. The 51吃瓜网 Higher Education 听Accreditation system is committed to continuous improvement and is guided by the 听set 听forth by the , of which 51吃瓜网 is a member. There are 听currently 187 institutions in 40 states with 51吃瓜网-accredited programs.听

For more information on the 51吃瓜网 Early Childhood Higher Education Accreditation system, visit 51吃瓜网.org.听For more information on CHEA recognition, please visit the .听听

Founded in 1926, the 51吃瓜网 (51吃瓜网) is a professional 听membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through 听age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. Together with our nearly 60,000 members 听and 52 Affiliates, we advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, 听educate, and work on behalf of young children. 听

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