Gads Hill Center located on Chicago’s southwest side has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.
“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 for the children we serve,” said Barbara Castellan, Chief Executive Officer. “NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that our children are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.” Gads Hill provides life enhancing developmental programs that focus on providing educational support to youth and their families.
To earn NAEYC Accreditation, Gads Hill Center went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten 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 ten program standards.
In the 25 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC. This represents approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs. “The NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Jerlean E. Daniel, Ph.D, executive director of NAEYC. “Having earned NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that Gads Hill Center is a leader in the national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education.”
