Nearly all — 23 of the 24 — childcare programs supported by the Ready, Set, Grow! pilot program at the University of Memphis that applied for accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) have achieved it, increasing the number of Shelby County accredited childcare centers by 60% and nearly tripling the number serving primarily economically disadvantaged children. As a result, about 1,700 more children annually across Shelby County will get top quality early care and education to help boost school readiness, a critical goal of Memphis Fast Forward.
To earn NAEYC accreditation, childcare centers must thoroughly demonstrate that they have policies and resources, including qualified teachers, to ensure that high quality early childhood development is consistently delivered in every classroom. The Ready, Set, Grow! pilot program provided a variety of support for participating centers, including academic scholarships for program directors, on-site teacher training, grants for equipment and materials, and on-site consulting. During this pilot phase, directors and centers spent several years meeting high accreditation standards.
With a wave of funding provided by the Plough Foundation, Ready, Set, Grow! has kicked off its second phase with a professional development program to prepare center directors for the accreditation process. In addition, the program’s upcoming phase offers support to more than 30 accredited centers to help them maintain their accreditation under new, more stringent accreditation standards introduced in 2006.
For More Information Contact: Deborah Moberly (901) 678-3517
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