Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/accreditation-strategies-benefits-and-practical-tips-achieving-center-accreditation/5013170/
Have you ever tried to assemble a swing set? Your neighbors have the red and white, candy cane version that is the gathering place for the children on the block. It's a rather large structure with swings, ladder and slide, four-seat glider, and acrobat rings. You decide to purchase a similar one for your backyard. It comes unassembled. You methodically lay out all the parts and quickly glance through the instruction booklet. Terms like struts, u-bolts, strap hinges, fish-plates, gussets, and wing nuts flash before your eyes; diagrams illustrating steps A through Z appear overwhelming. What have you gotten yourself into? You will need guidance from a friend with experience, a do-it-yourself primer, appropriate tools, time, and patience.The comparison of assembling a swing set to working through any accreditation process seems highly unorthodox. Yet, the basic principles are quite similar. You need the appropriate knowledge base to form a philosophy enabling you to achieve a consensus of goals for your center. Is your staff familiar with terminology such as anti-bias, cultural diversity, open-ended questioning, portfolio assessment, and individual education plans? We've heard from directors that to survive an accreditation process you need support from mentors, colleagues, consultants, administrators, boards, and parents. ...