CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER EARNS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION



Tracy Young                                                            
                                                      June 23, 2004
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone:  321/867-2468)

KSC Release No. 46-04



Child Development Center Earns National Accreditation 



The Child Development Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., is 
recognized with accreditation from the National Association for the 
Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation's leading 
organization of early childhood professionals.



The center provides safe, quality child care in a stimulating 
environment in which children can develop mentally, physically, 
socially and emotionally. Child care services are available to all 
KSC civil service and on-site contractor employees.



"We're proud to be accredited by the NAEYC and recognized for our 
commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said 
Noelle Bee, Child Development Center administrator. "NAEYC 
accreditation lets families in our community know that children in 
our program are getting the best care and early learning 
experiences."



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. To 
earn NAEYC's accreditation, a program conducts a self-study to 
determine how well it meets the standards.



After necessary improvements are made, the program is observed by 
independent, professional validators and then reviewed by a national 
panel. Programs are accredited for a five-year period.

	
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