What kinds of daycare accreditations are there?

• American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)

The American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) was founded in 1972 and is one of the leading organizations of Christian schools in the United States. The AACS aims to promote, establish, advance and develop Christian Schools and Christian education in America.

• Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1978 through a merger of three Christian school associations. Programs and services are designed to assist Christian schools at every grade level, including early education and higher education.

• Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC)

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) accreditation process fosters excellence in elementary, secondary and adult education by encouraging school improvement. WASC accreditation recognizes schools that meet an acceptable level of quality, in accordance with established, research-based WASC criteria.

• AdvancedED

AdvancED was created in 2006 and is the largest community of educational professionals in the world. AdvancED was formed in a merger between SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools), NCA (North Central Association) and NWAC (Northwest Accreditation Commission). AdvancED is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous on –site reviews of PreK – 12 schools and school systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential.

• Association Montessori International (AMI)

Association Montessori International (AMI) oversees recognition of eligible Montessori schools. A certificate of recognition is granted to a subset of Montessori schools that prove that they meet a set of specific Montessori standards as derived from Maria Montessori's original research and methodology. Schools must apply annually for one of the following levels: recognition, affiliation, and association.

• American Montessori Society (AMS)

American Montessori Society (AMS) is an organization whose membership includes schools, teacher education programs, teachers, parents, and other interested persons. AMS Accreditation is a voluntary process undertaken by schools. Through a self-study and documentation process a school defines itself in terms of strengths and areas that need improvement.

• Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE)

Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE) is a voluntary accreditation program with a two-step accreditation process. A self-study is followed by a verification visit, which is an evaluation of the indicators of quality in each individual program. All components of a program are examined including the following: administration, classroom environment, parent and community involvement, advocacy on behalf of children and child care, staffing credentials, staff-child ratios, teacher/child interaction, and literacy and curriculum.

• Council On Accreditation (COA)

The Council On Accreditation (COA) was founded in 1977, and is an independent and international, non-profit organization. The mission of the COA is to partner with human service organizations worldwide to create accreditation standards. The COA is focused on improving the well-being of individuals, families and communities.

• Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) was founded in 1979 and provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that  faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, transparency, fundraising and board governance.

• Georgia Accrediting Commision (GAC)

The Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) has been serving Georgia schools since 1904. The GAC aims to establish and promote standards promoting instructions of high quality for children in Georgia, and encourages schools to meet those standards.

• International Montessori Accreditation Council (IMAC)

International Montessori Accreditation Council (IMAC) is a private agency for the voluntary, non-governmental accreditation of educational programs for the preparation of Montessori teachers. Programs seeking accreditation must comply with specified Council standards, known as Essentials and Criteria.

• Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative (JECEI)

The Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative (JECEI) was founded in 2004 with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of families who send their children to high quality Jewish early childhood schools. JECEI works to inspire young people to become involved in Jewish life both during and long after the early childhood educational experience ends.

• Minnesota Afterschool Accreditation Program (MAAP)

The Minnesota Afterschool Accreditation Program accredits school-age or out-of-school time programs and early childhood programs with a school age room.

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) provides accreditation services to schools and institutions throughout the United States.

• Montessori School Accreditation Commission (MSAC)

The Montessori School Accreditation Commission (MSCA) is open to all Montessori schools. Accredited schools are expected to be excellent, constantly improving institutions of trust and confidence.

• Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)

Child care centers and family child care homes are required to be licensed or registered by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Division of Early Childhood Development. Program accreditation implies that services must move beyond mere licensing and regulatory requirements. Program accreditation standards represent the highest quality and reflect research-based, best practices in early childhood education. Most regional and national accreditations are recognized by MSDE. MSDE Credentialed Caregivers: The Maryland Child Care Credential recognizes child care providers, specifically teachers and caregiver, who go beyond the requirements of State licensing and registration regulations. Participating providers will complete training in topic areas to develop the knowledge and skills they need to provide the highest quality care for the children and families they serve. A credential is issued for a 12 month period and may be renewed each year.

• National AfterSchool Association (NAA)

National AfterSchool Association (NAA) (formerly the National School-Age Care Alliance) is a professional association with membership that includes more than 7,000 practitioners, policy-makers, and administrators representing all public, private, and community-based sectors of after-school and out-of-school time programs, as well as school-age and after-school programs on military bases, both domestic and international. NAA provides a voice for the after-school profession, and is dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours.

• National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NACCP)

National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NACCP) is a membership organization for child care owners, directors, and administrators, and it manages NAC. The NAC standards, which cover children birth through school-age, include the following components: program philosophy and goals, health and safety, administration, parent communication, curriculum, and interaction between staff and children.

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children. NAEYC established a national, voluntary accreditation system to set professional standards for early childhood education programs and to help families identify high-quality programs. The NAEYC Accreditation Criteria address all aspects of an early childhood program, including interactions among teachers and children, curriculum, interactions among teachers and families, administration, staff qualifications and professional development, staffing patterns, physical environment, health and safety, nutrition and food service, and program evaluation.

• National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a national membership organization whose mission is to support the profession of family child care and to encourage high-quality care for children. Accreditation was designed to promote and recognize high-quality, professional family child care. NAFCC Accreditation standards cover the following content areas: relationships, environment, activities, developmental learning goals, safety and health, and professional and business practices.

• North Central Association (NCA)

The North Central Association (NCA) is a division of AdvancED. The NCA identifies its geographic territory as Arkansas, Arizone, Colorada, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Navajo nation.

• North Carolina Christian School Association (NCCSA)

The North Carolina Christian School Association (NCCSA) is a service organization that exists to serve Christian schools and their constituency. The NSSCA”s purpose is to “aid in the promotion, maintenance, and improvement of the moral, spiritual, and academic standards of Christian schools in the state of North Carolina; to protect and preserve the freedom of Christian schools to exist and flourish.

• National Catholic Education Association (NCEA)

The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) was founded in 1904 and is the largest private professionals education organization in the world, representing 150,000 Catholic educators serving 6 million students in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, in religious education programs, in seminaries, and in colleges and universities.

• National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)

The National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA) has established accreditation procedures to facilitate the appropriate application, review, and recognition of qualified and credible accrediting associations serving private schools.

• National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)

National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) is a voluntary accreditation system for programs serving children ages birth to five years. The NECPA program is an Automated Accreditation Indicator System (AAIS). This system and the instrument itself were developed by Richard Fiene, in conjunction with the Early Childhood Education Programs Department of Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg. The NECPA self-assessment instrument is based on criteria in the following component areas: administration and general operations, professional development and work environment, indoor environment, outdoor environment, developmental programs, parent and community involvement, formal school linkages, and health and safety.

• National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA)

National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) is available for every school operated by a single congregation, by an association of congregations, or by a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church. NLSA is a national accrediting process designed to evaluate schools based on their unique purpose as Lutheran schools. NLSA is for early childhood, elementary, and secondary schools.

• Northwest Accreditation Commision (NWAC)

Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) is a division of AdvancED. The NWAC identifies its geographic territory as Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is a division of AdvancED. SACS identifies its geographic territory as Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas and Virginia.

• The Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE)

The Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) was first organized in 1974, and offers accreditation to nonpublic preschool, elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth.

• Virginia Independent School Association (VISA)

The Virginia Independent School Association (VISA) works towards the continual strengthening of independent schools in Virginia. VISA’s high standards for education first went into effect in September 2000. The standards have since been revised twice in an effort to keep up with changes in circumstances, student personnel, community interests of other fundamental factors governing programs of the school.