Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
January 23, 2002
Saint Mary's Preschool receives accreditation
Parish sponsored preschool garners elite recognition for program
Saint Mary's Preschool in Eagle, sponsored by St. Mary's Church, was recently granted accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This prestigious recognition has been achieved by approximately 7 percent of early childhood programs nationwide — some 7,584 programs as of July 1, 2001, serving 688,987 children.
NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they meet national standards of excellence.
Programs seeking accreditation undergo an intensive self-study, collecting information from parents, teachers, administrators and classroom observations. They receive an on-site visit conducted by early childhood professionals especially trained by NAEYC, to validate their self-study results. All information is independently reviewed by a team of national experts who grant or defer accreditation. When awarded, accreditation is valid for three years.
The heart of NAEYC accreditation focuses on the child's experience, said preschool directors Cindy Lagace and Agnes Harakal. The process carefully considers all aspects of a program including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications and physical environment.
Saint Mary's Preschool is located at 215 Capitol St. It serves 35 children ranging in age from 3 to 6.
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