Re-accreditation affirms quality of Teachers College Preschool

The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Preschool on ASU’s Tempe campus has earned re-accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This accreditation is valid until 2017.

“We are very proud of this accomplishment,” said Chari Woodward, director of the preschool. “NAEYC accreditation helps improve the quality of early childhood education throughout the country and the world and helps parents make the right choices of childcare for their children. NAEYC accreditation is a mark of excellence parents can trust. Lessons learned in early childhood programs last a lifetime.”

The Teachers College Preschool is one of 122 in Arizona and one of two programs in Tempe to have earned NAEYC accreditation. The NAEYC Academy judges childcare centers on ten standards including a caring and well-trained staff, comprehensive and effective curriculum and regular communication with parents.

“We obtained ratings of 100 percent or 100 percent-plus in each of the ten standards,” Woodward said. “Some special features of our program we offered for evaluation included the exceptional way we use the educational opportunities to be found here at ASU, including those through the music, drama and science departments. Our philosophy of learning through constructive play and our comprehensive assessment of children’s learning were a plus in the accreditation review process.”

The Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Preschool is currently enrolling for the fall 2012 semester. Enrollment is open to children ages two-and-a-half to five years old.

Located in Room 104 of the Farmer Education Building, the preschool has three brightly lit classrooms with age-appropriate furniture and equipment. The preschool playground is located between the Farmer Education and Payne Hall buildings, and facilitates open-ended play and exploration in a large, fenced-in, grassy area.

Visit http://education.asu.edu/preschool or call (480) 965-2510 for more information about the preschool and to schedule a tour.

For a listing of NAEYC-approved programs, visit http://www.rightchoiceforkids.org/accredited_program_search.