Program Among the Top in the Nation by Earning NAEYC Recognition
ThedaCare Child Learning Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals. The ThedaCare Child Learning Center is on the Appleton Medical Center campus and serves the children of ThedaCare employees.
To earn accreditation, ThedaCare Child Learning Center went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the 10 program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.
“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,” said Deborah Komp, the manager of ThedaCare Child Learning Center. “NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our high-quality program have teachers who create engaging classrooms, enhance relationships with their parents and families, and develop rich experiences for their students.”
ThedaCare Child Learning Center has been open since 1991. The center boasts a continuity of care in that children have primary caregivers assigned to the same group of children from infancy until they turn age 3. That teacher helps children transition to one of the multi-age preschool rooms for children ages 3 – 5. The Center is also a site for the Appleton Area School District’s community 4-K program.
In the 25 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. Nearly 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC – approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.
“It’s a lengthy and rigorous process to achieve NAEYC Accreditation and ThedaCare Child Learning Center should be commended for seeking high standards,” said Rhian Evans Allvin, executive director of NAEYC. “Caring for children is not ‘rocket science’ – it’s brain science. Studies prove that the brain connections made in the first few years of life set a child’s path for success in school and in life. That’s why quality educators are so crucial. For parents and caregivers of young children who are searching for a high-quality early learning experience, ThedaCare Child Learning Center’s NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that it offers high-quality education in a nurturing and stimulating environment.”
ThedaCare™ is a community health system consisting of five hospitals: Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, Shawano Medical Center, and Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. ThedaCare also includes ThedaCare Physicians, ThedaCare Behavioral Health, ThedaCare At Work, and ThedaCare at Home. ThedaCare is one of the largest employers in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 6,175 employees. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
