In 2021, the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) partnered with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to build Elevate.
Why we built Elevate on NAEYC’s system
NAEYC is the national accreditation system most invested in developing and maintaining high quality programs for young children. It has a long history of supporting quality improvement in early childhood education, both in the United States and abroad.
Building Elevate on NAEYC’s infrastructure has big advantages. We didn’t need to invest state funds to build our own rating and assessment systems. Instead, we can target our funding to program improvement supports for Connecticut providers.
NAEYC accreditation indicators, along with other national systems, are the foundation of Elevate’s Member Accredited Level of Engagement.
“NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation provides a roadmap for early learning programs to engage in quality. When early learning programs engage in accreditation, they are actively supporting children’s health, learning, and connection with the world around them. Children, educators, and families all benefit from NAEYC accredited early learning programs.”
—Michelle Kang, NAEYC’s Chief Executive Officer
Connecticut’s investment in NAEYC
Connecticut has invested in NAEYC accreditation for decades.
- When Elevate launched, Connecticut had the highest numbers of NAEYC-accredited programs in the country
- Connecticut programs funded by OEC achieve and maintain accreditation to receive state funding
- Since 1997, School Readiness legislation has funded accreditation support to improve programs
- Staffed Family Child Care Networks — community initiatives that have paid staff with expertise helping family child care providers — support accreditation and quality improvement
- Care 4 Kids subsidy system reimbursement rates include a bonus for each child enrolled in an NAFCC or NAEYC accredited program
What’s next?
NAEYC will launch an updated accreditation system in 2025. We’re working with their leadership to make sure Elevate aligns with their new system. We’re both excited to move forward in our partnership.