How important is accreditation to you?

[Anonymous]

I'm just curious how much importance you place in NAEYC accreditation for a daycare facility. I have two daycares in mind, one of which seems slightly superior to the other, but it isn't NAEYC accredited while the less impressive option is.

[Anonymous]

I think it helps when down selecting from a long list but if your instincts prefer one over another, I would go with instincts. You know what you are looking for.

I feel accreditation is a good thing but they do not go an check the site quarterly. They may check it annually with an inspection.

I had my little one at a school with and without and the only thing that mattered to me was how comfortable my child was and how I felt about the center. One was parochial and the other was a small one near me in Annandale.

Best of luck! Trust yourself.

[Anonymous]

It didn't matter to me at all. For daycare I want my child to be well cared for and engaged in regular activities like reading, art, play. I certainly wouldn't pay more for it or choose it over a more loving and comfortable environment.

[Anonymous]

As a director, I can tell you that NAEYC accreditation is an expensive and lengthy process. After doing it once, we chose not to go through it again for renewal. We felt that our time and money were better spent on staff training and being with the kids.

[Anonymous]

We've had our kids at two schools, and the NAEYC accredited one was light years ahead of the non-accredited one! Although, if we hadn't lucked in to it, I'm not sure it would matter. As long as my kid is in a loving environment and is learning at an appropriate level, I think I'd be happy.

[Anonymous]

We were at our when they went through accreditation and it seemed like a waste of time, but if you were looking for a way to screen daycares I could see it being useful for that (rather than as something you must have).

[Anonymous]

Spots in daycares around here are already so expensive and hard to find (sometimes), it seems like accreditation is an after-thought for many people.

[Anonymous]

I feel like accreditation adds nothing to an already good program. It's mostly paperwork on top of paperwork for a fancy sticker.

[Anonymous]

DCs attended a non-accredited school that's very year routinely sends a super majority of kids to so-called big three schools . It's a fantastic school with fantastic teachers. I've heard that the mixed-age classrooms are the reason for no accreditation, but haven't verified. Doesn't really matter, though. That being said, I'd treat accreditation on a case-by-case basis. In our instance, it obviously wasn't an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCs attended a non-accredited school that's very year routinely sends a super majority of kids to so-called big three schools . It's a fantastic school with fantastic teachers. I've heard that the mixed-age classrooms are the reason for no accreditation, but haven't verified. Doesn't really matter, though. That being said, I'd treat accreditation on a case-by-case basis. In our instance, it obviously wasn't an issue.

What preschool in the DC area sends more than 1/2 their kids to the Big 3? I have trouble coming up with one, unless you include something like PreK at Sidwell or Beauvoir, where the kids are already accepted. The schools I know of that send the highest portion of kids would be St. Johns, Little Folk, NCRC, and St. Columba's and none of them would be over 50% (so not even a regular majority), OR have mixed age classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Little folks sent at least 10 to Beauvoir, 7 to GDS and 2 to sidwell last year out of a out 25 kids departing.

[Anonymous]

Didn't matter to me.