Milwaukee Succeeds Promotes ECE Accreditation

For an early learning program, accreditation is more than just a review. It’s a chance to take a deep dive into the program’s practices, create an action plan for improvement, and reflect on the relationships they’re establishing. It’s also an opportunity to gain access to a larger pool of knowledge and support, including conferences, tools and trainings, and up-to-date research on best practices.

“For an early education program to be accredited, it means that they are incorporating high-quality practices within their program. They are taking the initiative to be intentional with serving the children, the families, and the community,” says Ashley Harrell, a coach for the Accreditation Facilitation Project (AFP).

The AFP was created in order to guide programs through this process. The 3-year project, funded by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Milwaukee Succeeds and facilitated by 4C for Children, helps both family and group programs by providing individualized coaching and training to help them navigate the major stages and ultimately receive accreditation.

We sat down with Ashley to discuss the accreditation process, what it requires of providers and how the AFP can help.

What accreditation agency should I choose?

There are a lot of great accreditation agencies out there. We recommend that providers do their research if they’re considering pursuing accreditation. For the sake of streamlining the process, we chose the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) for family programs and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for group programs.

Is there a fee to become accredited?

Yes. Each accreditation pathway does require a fee. Think of these fees as a commitment. By paying these dues, you show that you’re really serious about pursuing accreditation.

How long does the accreditation process take?

The time frame is based on the readiness of the program. The timeline we like to work with is giving programs at least 24 months to complete the whole accreditation process. For some, after the 6-month self-study period they may be ready to complete an application. Others may need to take some time to review their culture and make changes, and they could end up taking the full 24 months. What I don’t want to do when I support programs through this is to rush anybody. This work needs to be intentional, and providers need to be fully committed.

What are the steps to becoming accredited?

It starts with self-study, looking into what these accreditation organizations require and reflecting on your own program. This is requires looking at the assessment items and saying “Yes, we have this.” Or “No, we don’t do this, but we want to.” I always recommend not submitting an application unless you’ve looked at all the assessment items, you fully understand what that organization is asking for, and you know how your program measures up in terms of high-quality practices. This may include conducting mock observations or utilizing other self-assessment tools that your accreditation organization provides.

Once you’ve submitted your application, an assessor will come out to observe your program. ­­­This will include interviews with the director and observations of how your teachers interact with children. Since it’s difficult to get a full snapshot of a program in just a few hours, though, they’ll also look at what’s called a portfolio. This will include items like lesson plans, policies, and statements from parents or community members who can vouch for your programming being high-level.

After the observation, the accreditation agency provides you with a decision letter. That decision could be that you’ve successfully achieved accreditation or that the accreditation is deferred. What accreditation deferred would mean is that there are particular assessment items that may need more work or proof of high-quality practices.

I want to pursue accreditation. How do I get started?

Great decision! The Accreditation Facilitation Project can help guide you through the process of seeking accreditation. We provide training, mentoring services and scholarships to ensure providers get the resources they need to succeed, with a focus on five priority zip codes: 53204, 53206, 53210, 53215 and 53218.

To get started, simply complete an interest form. You can also reach out to me directly to schedule an information session – Ashley Harrell, AFP Coach, aharell@4cfc.org, (414) 588-8692. (Más información en español.)