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A Safer Start Child University, an early childhood school for children six weeks to six years of age with locations in Cranston and Lincoln, today announced that it has received the highly regarded distinction of accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for early learning programs. There are currently only forty programs in Rhode Island with this high honor and approximately 8 percent nationwide.
To earn NAEYC Accreditation, A Safer Start Child University teachers and families of attending children had to undergo an intensive multi-year program study that aligned the curriculum and overall program with the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than four hundred related Accreditation Criteria. Classroom and school wide portfolios were assembled, policies were refined, equipment and furnishings were upgraded, and daily procedures were polished over and over again.
“We are very proud of our teaching team and their efforts to continuously provide the best care and education for the young children we serve,” said Lynsey Colgan, owner of A Safer Start Child University. “The accreditation process took more than two years and was such an extensive program that we chose to designate our Director of Quality, Priscilla MacPherson, to drive the entire process. She guided the school on all levels and worked very hard to make the accreditation a reality."
In the 25 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high quality early childhood education. The NAEYC Accreditation system (naeyc.org) was created to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high quality preschools, child care centers, and other early education programs. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, a program must meet each of the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and then prepare the program to hold up to an on-site review by NAEYC program evaluators. In September 2006, the association revised program standards and criteria to introduce a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in preschools and child care programs. Now, the new 2008 standards used today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development.
“The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. “A Safer Start Child University’s NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start.”
A testament to the value of NAEYC Accreditation, Kristi Paquette, parent of currently enrolled children at A Safer Start Child University said, "there is no greater comfort than knowing your children are in a safe, caring, and enriching environment when you are not able to be with them. The school provides all of that and more and I cannot imagine my children anywhere else."
“Earning this national accreditation lets parents and families know that we are providing their children with the best program possible,” Colgan added. “I am always proud of our teaching team and everything they do for the children, but it is really an honor to now have national recognition for their tremendous daily efforts.”
About A Safer Start Child University
A Safer Start Child University (SaferStart.com) is proud to offer the very best care and education in Rhode Island for children ages six weeks to six years. With early learning programs in Cranston and Lincoln, our schools also offer on-site video cameras that allow parents to log-in (password protected) and see their children and our teachers at any time of the day through any Internet connection. A Safer Start Child University was established in 2002, employs a teaching staff of over sixty talented professionals, and provides services to more than 150 Rhode Island families.
Contact Information:
A Safer Start Child University
Mailing Address: 1 Commerce Street, Lincoln, RI 02865 or 117 Woodbine Street, Cranston, RI 02910
P: (401) 334-2626 or (401) 461-1880
Key Contact Person: Lynsey Colgan
E: Lynsey[.]SaferStart.com.
*Data from NAEYC | naeyc.org/.
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kellyjcolgan[.]gmail.com 
