NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
The largest early childhood professional organization in the U.S., setting accreditation standards and promoting best practices.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the largest professional organization focused on early childhood education in the United States. Founded in 1926, NAEYC serves as the leading voice for early childhood educators and advocates for policies, standards, and practices that promote high-quality early learning experiences for children from birth through age 8.
NAEYC is best known for its accreditation system, which recognizes childcare programs that meet a comprehensive set of quality standards across ten program areas, including curriculum, teaching, assessment, health, family engagement, and leadership. NAEYC accreditation is widely regarded as the gold standard in early childhood program quality and is recognized by many state QRIS systems as the highest level of quality designation.
Beyond accreditation, NAEYC publishes position statements that shape the field, including the foundational document on Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP). NAEYC also publishes professional journals, hosts an annual conference attended by thousands of educators, offers professional development resources, and advocates at the federal and state level for increased investment in early childhood education and better compensation for the early childhood workforce.
Related Terms
Accreditation
Voluntary quality recognition from an organization like NAEYC that goes beyond minimum state licensing standards.
DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice)
A teaching approach grounded in child development research, promoting learning experiences matched to each child's age, abilities, and interests. Defined by NAEYC.
QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System)
State-run systems that assess, improve, and communicate the quality of childcare programs, typically on a 1-5 star scale.
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