NAEYC accredits early childhood education programs that meet the organization's rigorous standards. Program accreditation is voluntary and not required by any local, state or federal mandate. Starting in 1985, the accreditation program has approved over 7,000 early childhood education centers and programs. NAEYC-accredited programs must meet standards that are categorized into those for children (relationships, curriculum, teaching, assessment and health), teachers, family and community partners (families and relationships with community partners) and administration (program environment and leadership). Programs that reach accreditation status must meet, and often exceed, the stated standards for early childhood education and can be expected to demonstrate research-based best practices in curriculum development, behavioral guidance and instructional practices. Parents and educators can find a full list of NAEYC-accredited programs at the organization's website.
Head Start programs are federally funded early childhood education services that help to provide low-income families with quality preschool experiences. According to Head Start Act, the overriding goal of programming is to provide school readiness services that help children to develop literacy, math, social and emotional skills. Head Start programs are required by the Office of Human Development Services, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, to meet specific standards related to child development, child health, safety, nutrition, mental health provisions, educational practices, partnerships with the community as well as families and staff qualifications. Head Start can be found in public schools, community centers and other similar institutions.
Many public and private universities offer early childhood education. Typically, these programs have been created to educate and care for the young children of university students, faculty and staff. Some programs may also be open to families outside of the university. University-run early childhood programs are administered by a department of child development, education, developmental psychology or similar discipline. These preschool experiences generally include quality, research-based curriculum and activities. Some university programs are also used for college and graduate level student teaching practicum or child development/educational research. For example, psychology faculty members and post-doctoral fellows conduct research projects in cognition and other developmental areas at the Children's School at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. University schools that permit educational/developmental research, sometime referred to as laboratory schools, may also employ more current educational strategies or philosophies that lead to better developmental outcomes in the children.