(Posted July 9, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College Early Childhood Education Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals, for a five year-period valid through June 30, 2014.

"We are among the first in the nation to complete this updated, more rigorous, process, says Christine Breene, co-director of the center. "We are thankful for the support we received from our families, the College community, and Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11. The Center offers a nationally recognized high quality program to the community and college students."

"We are among the first in the nation to complete this updated, more rigorous, process. We are thankful for the support we received from our families, the College community, and Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11. The Center offers a nationally recognized high quality program to the community and college students."

Christine Breene, co-director, Early Childhood Education Center

Juniata's center was first accredited by the NAEYC in 2001.

Juniata's Early Childhood Education Center serves as both a preschool for 40 children and a laboratory school for college students each semester. The center's curriculum gives children experience in math and logical reasoning, science, physical development, creative arts, social studies, social and emotional development, and language, literacy and communication.

The center is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and is the only center in Huntingdon County that is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The center's students range in age from 3 to age 5. As a result of being accredited, the program also received a four-star rating from the PA STARS program, the highest rating for child-care providers who exceed state health and safety licensing requirements.

The center also was the recipient of a $26,000 grant from Keystone STARS, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Office of Child Development and Early Learning. The grant, which the center received in April 2008, was used to purchase learning materials, toys and indoor equipment.

The center offers programs Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. There also is a full-day option from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday (children who attend all day pack their lunches). Parents can opt to have students attend from twice a week to five days a week.

In the 20 years since the NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high quality in early childhood education programs. More than 10,000 programs nationally are accredited by NAEYC. NAEYC created its accreditation program in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality child care and early education programs.

Criteria for high quality include all aspects of an early childhood program: interactions among staff and students, curriculum, staff and parent interactions, administration, staff qualifications and development, staffing patterns, physical environment, health and safety, nutrition and food service, and program evaluation.


Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.