Accreditation
NAEYC: National Association for the Education of Young Children
In July 2008 The Preschool at Forty Carrots Family Center was among the first early childhood programs in Sarasota to earn accredition by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) under the new, more rigorous, updated criteria.
NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they consistently meet national standards of excellence. NAEYC Accreditation represents Forty Carrots' commitment to quality early childhood education.
The Preschool at Forty Carrots Family Center first earned NAEYC accredited in 1995 and in order to achieve the revised NAEYC Accreditation under the new system, the preschool went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against 10 new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten NAEYC program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.
Look for the Stars
In 2010, The Preschool at Forty Carrots Family Center was awarded the highest possible designation, five stars, by the Look for the Stars Program in Sarasota County. Following an independent assessment, Forty Carrots was determined to demonstrate “consistently exemplary quality” which “far exceeds state licensing standards”. The preschool was awarded for the following criteria as described by the program:
The center demonstrates exceptional practice across all of the assessment areas and offers exemplary provisions for interactions and early care and education experiences.
A five star program is recognized for its dedicated commitment to providing high quality early childcare and continuing improvement.
A provider participating in the Look for the Stars program:
- Understands that learning begins at birth.
- Offers a safe and nurturing environment that encourages children to have fun, hands-on learning experiences.
- Fully integrates a developmentally appropriate curriculum across all learning domains.
- Maintains strong parent involvement with regular family activities and parent conferences.
- Uses on-going child observation and assessment to individualize learning experiences.
- Meets state legislated mandates for early care and education.
- Supports and promotes policies designed for quality improvement.
- Demonstrates a commitment to continued teacher training and professional development.
- Engages in ongoing program assessment and improvement efforts.
