UA’s Child Care Services Re-Accredited by National Association for the Education of Young Children

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s University Child Care Services (UCCS) was recently re-accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a prestigious recognition only achieved by 7 percent of early childhood programs nationwide.

“UCCS is proud of its alliance with this esteemed association and looks forward to further collaboration toward the NAEYC goal of advancing high quality programs for all children,” said Dr. Susan Bagby, UCCS director. UCCS, located on the UA campus, annually serves some 47 children from the ages of 3 months to more than 5 years.

NAEYC, the nation’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the quality of early childhood education, established accreditation in 1985 in response to the growing number of children enrolled in child care facilities.

“The heart of NAEYC accreditation focuses on the child’s experience,” Bagby said. “The process carefully considers all aspects of a program including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications and physical environment. 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,” Bagby said.