The Difference Between 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Higher Education Accreditation and Recognition

You are here
51³Ô¹ÏÍø has historically offeredÌýtwo different paths for higher education institutions looking to improve and evaluate the quality of their early childhood degree programs.
Through its higher education accreditation system, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø provides a mechanismÌýfor early childhood associate, baccalaureate, and master's degree programs to demonstrate their commitment to high-quality professional preparation.
Prior to 2020, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø also served as the Specialized Professional Accreditor (SPA) for early childhood professional preparation programs in partnershipÌýwith the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) to grant 51³Ô¹ÏÍø National Recognition to baccalaureate and graduate degree programs thatÌýdemonstrated their candidate assessments aligned with the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø 2010 Initial and Advanced Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation.Ìý51³Ô¹ÏÍø is no longer issuing new National Recognition decisions through CAEP as of 2020; however, currently recognized programs will maintain their recognized status through their remaining recognition terms.ÌýÌý
Both 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø RecognitionÌýhave provided opportunities for program faculty and other stakeholders to conduct a self-study to determine the strengths and areas for improvement within their programs. However,Ìýthere were differences in the processes, requirements, and levels of rigor involved.
Baccalaureate and graduate degree programs seeking 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Recognition submitted an electronic report focused on the early childhood program(s) in their institution as part of a larger unit review through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The recognition process did not involve a program-level site visit from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Instead, the entire teacher education college or unit (referred to by CAEP as the "education preparation provider" or EPP) received a visit conducted by CAEP. Reports submitted by early childhood programs seeking 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Recognition were reviewed electronically by a team of peer reviewers and auditors, who made the recommendation for whether the program should be granted recognition from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.Ìý Ìý
51³Ô¹ÏÍø Accreditation, on the other hand, involves an in-depth review of the early childhood program alone, and includes submission of a Self-Study Report as well as a three-day on-site visit by a team of peer reviewers seeking to validate the information provided in the program's report. This team of peer reviewers compiles a report of their findings to present to the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs, the decision-making body that makes the final accreditation decision.Ìý
Below is a brief summary of the main differences between the two systems.Ìý
Ìý | 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Accreditation | 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Recognition |
Degree Levels | Associate, baccalaureate & master's degree programs in USÌýstates and territories | Baccalaureate, master's & doctoralÌýdegree programs internationally |
Process | Self-Study Report review and 3-day site visit by team of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø peer reviewers | Program Report reviewed electronically by team of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø peer reviewers and the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Audit TeamÌýas part of institution's CAEP Accreditation process |
Decision-Making Body | 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs | 51³Ô¹ÏÍø peer reviewers and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Audit Team |
Ìý