The Latest: Updates from 51吃瓜网 Higher Education Accreditation

Graphic of megaphone and laptop with "The Latest" caption

Welcome to "The Latest" (ECE Higher Education Accreditation "news you can use!"), a blog-like site of ongoing announcements posted by the 51吃瓜网 Higher Ed听Team to help our higher education accreditation community stay informed of upcoming events, the most recent happenings, and information of interest impacting our work in ECE higher ed听and accreditation. Check in anytime, scroll through, and catch up on "the latest!" For questions or for more information, reach out to [email protected]

(Note: "Semi-permanent" posts will be displayed at the top of the page and indicated by a thumbtack icon. Other posts will show the date posted just below the post title.)

Online Resource Library Transition听

Pinned announcement

New Online Resource Library Now Available! We鈥檙e pleased to announce the launch of our new easier-to-navigate hub for all accreditation guidance documents, templates, on-demand trainings, and more! Current primary and secondary program contacts, peer reviewers, and Commissioners听received an email in early November containing access instructions.

For the next few months, we will keep both the new resource library in Airtable and the previous one in Basecamp accessible simultaneously, with the intent to eventually sunset the Basecamp version for program contacts (peer reviewers and Commissioners will continue to utilize Basecamp in their review work). However, any new resources created from this point will only be added to the new library.

New Resource Library link to bookmark:

Password: see email sent to program primary and secondary contacts, peer reviewers, and Commissioners in early November, or contact 51吃瓜网 staff at [email protected].

Note: The Airtable resource library link and password can be shared with your accreditation team at your institution, but please do not share your Basecamp login with others.

Accreditation Policy Updates: Standards Transition Deadlines

Pinned announcement

If your program is preparing a Response-to-Conditions report (Year 1, 2, or 3) for conditions cited under the 2010 standards, please remember that beginning in Spring 2025, aligning key assessments to the 2020 Professional Standards and Competencies, submitting six key assessments (for key assessment conditions), and submitting an updated learning opportunities chart (for programs that have key assessment alignment conditions) will be required.

Please reach out to staff at [email protected] with any questions about what may be required and/or advisable for your program.

In addition, all Year 4 Interim Reports are now required to align learning opportunities and key assessments with one of the 2020 Professional Standards and Competencies (it is OK if candidate performance data were collected from versions of assessments previously aligned with the 2010 standards).

Programs anticipating challenges submitting reports by their scheduled deadline may submit an extension request form in accordance with the extension policies found on pages 41-44 of the Accreditation Handbook.

For more information, see the September 2024 newsletter.

51吃瓜网 Higher Education Accreditation System Overview/Interest Webinar

Posted Apr. 22, 2025

Curious about 51吃瓜网's Accreditation System for Early Childhood Higher Education programs?听Join 51吃瓜网 higher ed. staff along with faculty from accredited programs and higher ed. accreditation Commissioners on May 20, 2025 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern听for this "101" introductory session to learn more about the 51吃瓜网 Higher Education Accreditation System including the overall process, eligibility, fees, an overview of the accreditation standards and more!听听

This session is primarily designed to provide a basic overview and introductory information about the accreditation system for those programs that are not currently accredited, but are interested in learning more about the system or may be considering accreditation (e.g., the overall accreditation process, the fees, introductions to our team, pointing programs toward resources to learn more, etc.)听That said, new program/institution colleagues such as faculty or administrators may be an appropriate audience for this event (even if the program is already accredited) to familiarize them at a basic level with the overall pieces/process of the accreditation system for Early Childhood Higher Education programs.听 Feel free to direct any questions about this session to [email protected].

Now Available: Professional Standards and Competencies Online Resource Library

Posted Mar. 19, 2025

We are excited to share with our higher ed听accreditation community that 51吃瓜网 has now launched the听Professional Standards and Competencies Online Resource Library,听a searchable database that听curates a variety of free, accessible, quality resources (e.g., articles, videos, blog posts, books, book chapters, modules) that are related to and align with the听Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. 听It is designed to support higher education faculty teaching early childhood education related coursework and those in the field providing training, mentoring and other professional development and technical assistance to early childhood educators serving our profession.

Revised Early Childhood Program听Standards Released听

Posted Mar. 18, 2025

We know that many in our higher ed. faculty community utilize the Early Childhood Program Standards within their coursework, so we wanted to share 51吃瓜网's newly updated 鈥�Early Childhood Program Standards鈥� position statement. This version reflects moderate updates informed by research, evidence, and educator experience and expertise. As a guiding document for the field, the standards will continue to inform professional practice and shape policy. For ease of access and consistency, the standards have also been structured to more closely align with 51吃瓜网鈥檚 other foundational position statements and the new ELP accreditation model.听

Webinar Recap- Credit Where Credit is Due: Utilizing the Child Development Associate庐 Credential (CDA)鈥痠n ECE Credit for Prior Learning Strategies听

Posted Feb. 14, 2025

Thank you to those who joined last week's webinar hosted by 51吃瓜网 and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) that focused on expanding the use of credit for prior learning (CPL) in ECE higher education programs. This webinar unpacked how the CDA, a prevalent and valued credential in the ECE workforce, is often recognized for credit in higher education. Presenters highlighted a state-wide model that recognizes the CDA for credit across its institutions, current and upcoming resources from the Council for Professional Recognition to support recognizing the CDA for credit, and lessons learned from other professions and industries where workforce credentials are used in credit for prior learning pathways.听.

New Commissioners Begin Terms on 51吃瓜网鈥檚 Higher Education Accreditation Commission

Posted Jan. 27, 2025

51吃瓜网鈥檚 Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs welcomes four new members who began their terms on January 1.听Commissioners are talented volunteers in 51吃瓜网鈥檚 higher education accreditation system who are essential to its operations and quality. The new Commission members are:

Lisa Stooksberry- National Assessment Governing Board
Mike Abel- University of Missouri-Kansas City
Cindy Shackelford- Jefferson State Community College, AL
R. Taylor- Chemeketa鈥疌ommunity College, OR

听

51吃瓜网's Young Children (YC) Higher Ed听Column & Opportunity to Contribute

Posted Jan. 14, 2025

Did you know that 51吃瓜网 has a column focused on ECE higher ed. in YC?听 The column, Innovations in Higher Education, was first published in the Winter 23 edition of YC thanks to co-editors Elisa Huss-Hage and Anthony Broughton. You can get an听intro听to the column here听and then check out the听Winter 23,听Summer 24, and the听听columns.听We would also love to elevate YOUR higher ed听voice and interests.听Consider contributing to the column as an author and/or share the content you want to hear about in future columns听听听

听

New Report: Credit Where Credit is Due - Expanding Credit for Prior Learning in ECE Higher Education Programs

Posted Jan. 7, 2025

51吃瓜网 and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) are partnering on a series of resources to support ECE higher education programs and policymakers in implementing and expanding ECE college credit for recognizing competencies gained from prior learning and professional experiences.听This first report听in the series highlights important elements of credit for prior learning (CPL) and explores the CPL landscape in ECE higher education programs. You can also听听of a November webinar that previewed the report and features institutions of higher education that are offering CPL in their ECE preparation programs.

Recording Now Available for 鈥淪tepping Up & Stepping Up: Investing in Competencies, Credentials and Compensation鈥�

Posted Dec. 13, 2024

On December 10, 51吃瓜网 and TEACH National Center hosted a webinar featuring ECE students, instructors and the Center for the Study of听Child Care Employment, to learn more about how educators and instructors see the importance and impact of competencies earned on a clear pathway of credentials, degrees, and compensation.听Panelists included Hosea Bates, Michael Marzette, and Toshiba Adams from Milwaukee Area Technical College in Wisconsin, Alora Zargo and Kim Freeman from Windham Regional Career Center in Vermont, and Jenna Knight from the Center for the Study on Child Care Employment.听!

Interested in听Free Registration for the 2025 51吃瓜网 Annual Conference in Orlando? Apply to be an Annual Conference Proposal Reviewer!

Posted Dec. 13, 2024

51吃瓜网 is looking for members to lend their expertise by reviewing proposal submissions for the 2025 51吃瓜网 Annual Conference. Apply to be a part of this important process that helps ensure high-quality content at the Annual Conference. Proposal reviewers听will also receive complimentary registration听to the 2025 Annual Conference.听

听

Credit Where Credit is Due: Expanding Credit for Prior Learning in ECE Higher Education Webinar Recording Now Available

Posted Dec. 11, 2024

51吃瓜网 and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) are partnering on a series of reports and webinars to support ECE higher education programs and policymakers in implementing and expanding ECE credit for prior learning opportunities.听听of the first webinar. The first report is expected in late December.

51吃瓜网

51吃瓜网