Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/taking-the-leap-getting-started-on-center-accreditation/5013022/
Could this be you? Look under your desk or in the corner of your office. Is there an unopened box of NAEYC accreditation self-study materials? Have you been using it as a footstool or a place to toss your jacket? How long has it been there? Have you been intimidated by the size of the box, heard discouraging stories from colleagues, or are you just too overwhelmed with your daily work to open it?Over the past five years, I have worked with over 200 directors. They include brand-new directors and veteran administrators from Head Start, church-based, nonprofit, private proprietary, public school, university-sponsored, and hospital-affiliated programs. They are from inner city, suburban, and rural areas representing a wide range of economically and culturally diverse communities. Their programs are half-day and full-day, infants through school-agers. Some of their programs enroll as few as 25 children; others serve 500 or more children. Their educational backgrounds vary.
All of these directors were interested in pursuing NAEYC accreditation. They enrolled in a management course to learn about the process. What I learned about working with them is that taking the leap from being informed and interested in accredita-tion to engaging in the self-study process is ...