The Accreditation Status information field indicates the level of quality whereby the service provider demonstrates the capacity, commitment, and competence to support high-quality learning and ongoing program improvement.
Accreditation is another way to judge the quality of a child care program. Any child care program can get accredited. Child care centers, Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs), school-age child care programs, and after school programs may apply for and receive national accreditation from a variety of different accrediting associations. The accreditation guidelines vary but are generally higher than those required by local or state regulations and licensing. Each accrediting process includes a self-study, an application (and fees), a validation visit to verify information, and yearly certification through written documentation. Upon receiving official accreditation, the provider receives a certificate that verifies its status. A list of accrediting associations is provided below:
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Accreditation Commission (NAC)
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
- American Camp Association (ACA)
Note: The above list is an example of some of the child care accrediting associations. Agencies are responsible for obtaining information regarding accreditation options and resources available to them.
Where to Find It
For agencies operating center-based programs, contact the program director of an agency to determine whether the agency is accredited by an accrediting association.
Rules and Guidelines
- This information field is required.
- Indicate the Accreditation Status based on the choices below:
- 0 – No
- 1 – Yes. National Accreditation
- 2 – Yes. State Accreditation
- 3 – Yes. Other Accreditation (not National or State Level)
- 4 – Yes. Level/Type of Accreditation Unavailable
- 9 – Not Applicable. Information Currently Unavailable
Error Messages and Solutions
- The Accreditation Status is required. [801A Electronic File Transfer], [801A Input/Edit]
Problem: The information on the Accreditation status is missing.
Solution: Confirm that one of the choices indicated in the Rules and Guidelines section is selected.
- "Accreditation Status" must be a valid one digit accreditation code: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 9. [801A Electronic File Transfer only]
Problem: The Accreditation Status in the electronic file is not one of the valid choices indicated in the Rules and Guidelines section.
Solution: Confirm that the electronic file contains one of the codes listed above.
Frequently Asked Questions
- My site where all our children receive services is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. How do I report this in my electronic file?
Since the National Association for the Education of Young Children is a nationally accreditation association, enter a "1" in the appropriate field within the electronic file to indicate the site is nationally accredited.
- How do I know if our agency has been accredited?
Each accrediting association will provide each agency with a certificate that verifies their status upon receiving official accreditation.
Return to Appendix A: Data Definitions