Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

What is quality Early Childhood Education

QualityStart OC can connect parents to quality caregivers and teachers who create stimulating, caring, and effective learning environments for children.

Key components of a high quality program include:
• A safe environment
• A developmentally appropriate curriculum
• Well educated staff
• Small group sizes and low adult-to-child ratios
• Parent-teacher communication and family engagement

These resources can help you understand and measure the quality of early childhood programs:
1. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides information on what defines quality. They also accredit programs by assessing them against quality standards.

2. Professional Association for Childhood Education (PACE) is a statewide non-profit organization that provides resources and services for early care and education professionals to improve business management practices through education, networking, and advocacy. Contact PACE by calling (800)-924-2460 or email info@pacenet.org.

3. Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is the largest Protestant education organization in the nation and offers professional development services for Christian educators.  Schools and programs can become accredited through ACSI.