Santa Maria Sun / School Scene

YMCA provides 'Stepping Stones' to a good education

Amy Asman

Whoever said educational accreditation was only for college programs?

The Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s Stepping Stones Center recently earned its accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the nation’s leading organizations of early childhood professionals.

“NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible,” Corinna Castillo, Early Childhood Program director for the YMCA Stepping Stones program, said in a press release.

YMCA Stepping Stones emphasizes activities that build healthy sprit, mind, and body. The center provides infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with hands-on learning experiences aimed at strengthening early childhood development.

In order to receive the accreditation, Stepping Stones went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and other related criteria.

The program received accreditation after assessors made an onsite visit to ensure that the program met each of the standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

Currently, only about eight percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs in the nation are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

“The new NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers, and other early childhood programs,” Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC, said in a release to the media.

School Scene is compiled by Staff Writer Amy Asman. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.