NAEYC Early Learning Program 
       Accreditation Standards and 
       Assessment Items
       Approved by the NAEYC Council on the 
       Accreditation of Early Learning Programs
                                       *Applies to all accreditation site visits 
                                       beginning July 2019 until otherwise informed.
                                       NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation 
                                       Standards and Assessment Items Copyright 
                                       2019 National Association for the Education of 
                                       Young Children. All rights reserved.
                  NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Item
                                    1
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             Director, Quality                      NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards 
             Assessment and Assurance               and Assessment Items. Copyright © 2019 by the National 
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             Through its work, the National 
             Association for the Education 
             of Young Children (NAEYC) 
             provides a forum for discussion 
             of major issues and ideas in the 
             early childhood field, with the 
             hope of provoking thought and 
             promoting professional growth. 
                Introduction .....................................6                 Basic Structure .................................7
                                                                                                        ............................................8 
                Limitations of Use...........................7                      Overview
                NAEYC Program Standards and Accreditation Assessment Items                                                                      10
                  1 Relationships ............................10                                                   ................................. 28
                                                                                          2.H—Technology
                     Definition of Standard 1—                                            2.J—Creative Expression and 
                                                                                          Appreciation for the Arts
                     Relationships ........................................10                                                  .................... 29
                     Rationale                                                            2.K—Health and Safety
                                   ...............................................11                                       .......................30
                     Topic Areas                                                          2.L—Social Studies
                                       ...........................................11                                  .............................30
                     1.A—Building Positive Relationships                                  Accreditation Assessment Items for 
                     Between Teachers and Families ...........11                          Standard 2—Curriculum ..................... 32
                     1.B—Building Positive Relationships                               3 Teaching ..................................39
                     Between Teachers and Children
                                                                    ......... 12
                     1.C—Helping Children Make Friends                                    Definition of Standard 3—Teaching ...39
                                                                         ...13
                                                                                          Rationale
                     1.D—Creating a Predictable, Consistent,                                            .............................................40
                                                                                          Topic Areas
                     and Harmonious Classroom                                                               .........................................40
                                                              ................13
                     1.E—Addressing Challenging                                           3.A—Designing Enriched Learning 
                     Behaviors ..............................................14           Environments ......................................40
                     1.F—Promoting Self-Regulation                                        3.B—Creating Caring Communities for 
                                                                  ...........15
                                                                                          Learning
                     Accreditation Assessment Items for                                                ...............................................41
                                                                                          3.C—Supervising Children
                     Standard 1—Relationships                                                                                    ................. 42
                                                           ...................16
                  2 Curriculum ............................... 19                         3.D—Using Time, Grouping, and 
                                                                                          Routines to Achieve Learning Goals
                                                                                                                                              .. 44
                     Definition of Standard 2—Curriculum  19                              3.E—Responding to Children’s Interests 
                     Rationale
                                   ............................................. 20       and Needs ...........................................44
                     Topic Areas                                                          3.F—Making Learning Meaningful for All 
                                       ......................................... 20
                     2.A—Essential Characteristics                                        Children ............................................... 45
                                                                 ............ 20
                     2.B—Social and Emotional                                             3.G—Using Instruction to Deepen 
                     Development....................................... 22                Children’s Understanding and Build 
                                                                                          Their Skills and Knowledge ................46
                     2.C—Physical Development
                                                             ................ 23          Accreditation Assessment Items for 
                                                                                          Standard 3—Teaching
                     2.D—Language Development                                                                             ........................ 48
                                                                ............. 23
                     2.E—Early Literacy............................... 24              4 Assessment of Child Progress 53
                     2.F—Early Mathematics
                                                       ...................... 26          Definition of Standard 4—Assessment of 
                                                                                                                ..................................... 53
                     2.G—Science                                                          Child Progress
                                         ........................................27
                                                                                             Feeding
                     Rationale ............................................. 54                           ............................................ 68
                     Topic Areas                                                          5.B—Ensuring Children’s Nutritional 
                                       ......................................... 54
                                                                                          Well-Being
                     4.A—Creating an Assessment Plan                                                       ........................................... 69
                                                                        .... 54
                     4.B—Using Appropriate Assessment                                     5.C—Maintaining a Healthful 
                                                                                          Environment
                     Methods .............................................. 55                                ......................................... 71
                     4.C—Identifying Children’s Interests                                 Accreditation Assessment Items for 
                     and Needs and Describing Children’s                                  Standard 5—Health ............................. 73
                     Progress .............................................. 56         6 Staff Competencies, 
                     4.D—Adapting Curriculum,                                           Preparation, and Support ...........77
                     Individualizing Teaching, and Informing                              Definition of Standard 6—
                     Program Development ........................57                       Staff Competencies, 
                     4.E—Communicating With Families and                                  Preparation, and Support ....................77
                     Involving Families in the Assessment                                 Rationale
                     Process .................................................57                         ............................................. 78
                                                                                          Topic Areas
                     Accreditation Assessment Items                                                         ......................................... 78
                                                                                          6.A—Supportive Work Environment
                     for Standard 4—Assessment of                                                                                              ... 78
                     Child Progress ..................................... 59              6.B—Professional Identity and 
                  5 Health ...................................... 61                      Recognition .........................................80
                     Definition of Standard 5—Health   ......61                           6.C—Qualifications of Teaching and 
                                                                                          Administrative Staff .............................81
                     Rationale
                                    ............................................. 62      6.D—Ongoing Professional 
                     Topic Areas                                                          Development....................................... 82
                                       ......................................... 62
                     5.A—Promoting and Protecting                                         Accreditation Assessment Items for 
                     Children’s Health and Controlling                                    Standard 6—Staff Competencies, 
                                                                                          Preparation, and Support
                     Infectious Disease ............................... 62                                                      ................... 85
                        Health records
                                              ................................. 62      7 Families ................................... 90
                        Health consultants
                                                    ........................... 63        Definition of Standard 7—Families .....90
                        Staff training and program practices                              Rationale
                        in the event of illness .......................63                                ..............................................91
                                                                                          Topic Areas
                        Outdoor activities                                                                  ..........................................91
                                                   ............................ 64
                        Diapering                                                         7.A—Knowing and Understanding the 
                                       .......................................... 65      Program’s Families
                                                                                                                      ...............................91
                        Hand washing
                                             .................................. 66        7.B—Sharing Information Between Staff 
                        Children’s medications                                            and Families ........................................ 93
                                                          .................... 66
                        Water play                                                        7.C—Nurturing Families as Advocates 
                                        ........................................ 67       for Their Children ................................ 95
                        Sudden infant death syndrome....... 67