MSU Center Reaccredited

STARKVILLE, Miss.–The Aiken Village Preschool at Mississippi State is newly reaccredited by the nationʼs leading organization for early childhood development.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children recently notified the university that its year-round program for 3-to-5-year-olds continues to meet a set of rigorous standards–an accomplishment of less than 40 programs among nearly 1,600 childcare centers statewide.

“We are so proud of our staff and how hard theyʼve worked,” said school director Carol Jones. “Our dedicated staff works as a team. Quality in childcare is critical, and a team effort is so important to building that quality.”

Located on Collegeview Street and enrolling 34, the preschool is a partnership administered by MSUʼs Early Childhood Institute.

Other partners include the College of Educationʼs department of curriculum, instruction and special education and the Holly Springs-based Institute of Community Services Inc./Head Start Inc.

Jones expressed appreciation for support provided by university and ECI leadership. “It takes a village to raise a child, and without these administrators’ and staff membersʼ support, we wouldnʼt be able to provide the quality that we do,” she said.

The re-accreditation notice follows an extensive documentation process that measures programs and services against 10 professional standards including more than 400 criteria, as well as the administration of parent surveys and an on-site assessment team visit. Approved programs also may receive unannounced visits during the five-year accreditation term.

Founded in 1926, the Washington, D.C.-based accreditation organization includes some 100,000 members and a national network of more than 300 local, state and regional affiliates. For more information, visit www.naeyc.org.