WHITTIER – Río Hondo College Child Development Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children.
NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative system that uses 10 research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive improvement in high-quality early learning environments.
“We’re proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” Acting Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss. “This is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire Child Development Center team.
The College has provided childcare programs since the 1960s, moved into its current facility in 1996. The Center provides a state preschool at its Pre-School Laboratory that is free to qualifying families. The center has four classrooms and three playgrounds.
Operating under modified hours and capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the center currently serves a maximum of 14 students in each classroom. Students at the center are ages 2 to 5.
“We believe that every child should be provided with a diverse and responsive environment,” Child Development Center Director Dr. Shireetha Gethers said. “Our program provides an engaging, child-centered and developmentally appropriate environment that fosters personal growth and academic development.”
To earn NAEYC accreditation, Río Hondo College Child Development Center pursued an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by a site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure the program met each of the 10 program standards and hundreds of individual criteria. Accreditations run for five years.
In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are accredited by NAEYC – less than 10 percent of all childcare centers, preschools and kindergartens nationally.
“Earning NAEYC Accreditation makes Río Hondo College Child Development Center an exemplar of good practice for families and the entire community,” said Kristen Johnson, senior director of Early Learning Program Accreditation at NAEYC.
For more information about NAEYC Accreditation, visit the NAEYC website.
MEDIA RELEASE
3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2020
CONTACT: Ruthie Retana
(562) 463-3145
