Hanscom CDC earns re-accreditation from NAEYC

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Hanscom's Child Development Center has earned the distinction of being one of the first centers in the nation to successfully complete a rigorous re-accreditation process from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The re-accreditation recognizes the CDC as a leader in providing a safe, high quality learning environment for the children and families it serves. 

"We are extremely proud of our Child Development Center team for achieving this important milestone," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "It validates what our community already knows--that our Child Development Center and staff are second to none." 

The National Association for the Education of Young Children is the outside accrediting organization that the Air Force selected to inspect and certify its 124 Air Force child development programs. Hanscom is one of the first Air Force bases to undergo the accreditation process under NAEYC's new standards that were recently implemented.

To earn its re-accreditation, Hanscom underwent an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria.

The first step in the process was enrollment, which involved an extensive self assessment of the program. For the Hanscom CDC, the certification process began approximately two- years ago. "It was an intense process," said Colleen Davis, Hanscom Child Development Center director. "We have a great program and the staff here is second to none. Everyone worked very hard towards achieving this goal." 

NAEYC requires child care providers to complete a four-step program before they can achieve accreditation. These requirements are designed to increase the accountability of the system for children, families and all customers of NAEYC accreditation. The heart of accreditation focuses on the child's experience.

"The process carefully considers all aspects of a program, including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications and physical environment," said Kristen Melvin, Training and Curriculum specialist. "The greatest emphasis is on the children's relationships with the staff and how the program helps each child grow and learn intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally."

Hanscom completed the final step of its re-accreditation process with a thorough onsite inspection of its program by NAEYC assessors in March to ensure that the program met each of the 10 NAEYC program standards.

"Research supports the value of accreditation for children," Ms. Melvin said. "The areas that we focus on will provide a critical foundation for children's success in school, as well as in life."

Ms. Davis said the accreditation process has really strengthened the center's relationships with the Hanscom community and the communities outside the base, with staff, and with the families that it serves.

"I especially want to thank our staff and our families for their patience, understanding and assistance," Ms. Davis said. "Everyone has really stepped up to help us make it through and I want them to know just how much we appreciate their efforts."