Child Development Research Center Among First in Nation to Earn National Accreditation

The Christine DeVitt and Helen DeVitt Jones Child Development Research Center (CDRC) is one of the first early childhood programs in the nation to earn new higher-standard accreditation from the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.

The CDRC, located on the Lubbock campus received renewed accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Committed to Excellence

To earn NAEYC accreditation under the new system, the CDRC went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria.

The program received accreditation after an on-site visit by assessors. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.

“The CDRC is committed to reaching the highest professional standards when it comes to early childhood development and education,” said Linda Hoover, dean of the College of Human Sciences. “Through this program, the college is able to touch the lives of children and families within the Lubbock community.”

The CDRC provides educational/developmental programs for children from six weeks through five years of age. These include an infant/toddler program for children six weeks to two years old and a preschool program for children two to five years of age each fall, spring and first summer semester.

“We are proud to have earned this mark of quality from NAEYC and to be recognized for our commitment to our children,” said Stacy Johnson, director of the CDRC. “This accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.”

A Classroom for All Ages

These classrooms also serve as college laboratory classes and are part of the instructional experiences for university students in understanding and facilitating the development of young children. In addition, the CDRC provides interdisciplinary research opportunities for faculty and graduate students, including the study of child behavior and the generation of effective strategies for promoting optimal human development and family interactions. The CDRC also seeks to provide a model for developmentally appropriate programs for children.

“The new NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark Ginsberg, executive director of NAEYC. “Texas Tech Child Development Research Center’s NAEYC accreditation is a sign that it is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education and to help give all children a better start.”

As of September 2006, the NAEYC’s revised program standards and criteria have introduced a new level of quality, accountability and service for parents and children in childcare programs. The new standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development.

The NAEYC accreditation system was created in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs.

 

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