Becoming accredited means you’ve worked hard to achieve national distinction as a high quality program.
Elevate offers support for programs working toward accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC). We also cover both NAEYC and NAFCC accreditation fees.
Head Start programs are also considered approved or “accredited” and can become a Member Accredited in Elevate. Head Start programs are administered by the Office of Head Start (OHS)
Take action
Our Service Navigators are experienced guides who can talk about your program’s needs and find ways to meet them. Connect with a Service Navigator.
Is your program center-based or license-exempt? The NAEYC Accreditation Portal gives you access to helpful resources that support accreditation. Register for an account.
Self-study is a method for comparing your program with accreditation standards. It will help you identify strengths and areas where you can improve. Learn about self-study for center-based programs and for family child care providers.
Wondering if you should pursue accreditation? Get an overview of the benefits.
Explore key resources
- Accreditation Quality Improvement Supports (AQIS): AQIS offers free professional development to providers. It includes study groups on selected NAEYC accreditation standards and best practices in early care and education.
- Staffed Family Child Care Networks (SFCCNs): SFCCNs support family child care providers with training, group purchasing, and access to nurse consultants.
Ready to dive deeper?
Check out some more resources to help you get accredited.
- NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items: These standards offer guidance for all programs, whether they intend to seek accreditation or not.
- NAFCC Benchmarks of Quality: These are indicators of high quality in family child care programs.
We can help. Connect with a Service Navigator