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Pacific Union Conference 
Office of Education
Volume 19, No. 3
Summer 2021

Thinking about Accreditation?
How will you know you are ready?


Compiled by Julie Yamada

Accreditation is a big step to take for an early childhood program. It will involve organization, teamwork, and dialog among administrators, board members, teachers, and families. Accreditation is designed to promote quality or to validate the existing high quality in an ECE program. When a program achieves accreditation, it ensures families and other stakeholders that certain quality standards are being met.

When the administration of an early childhood program begins to consider accreditation, there are some questions to ask. Most of these questions can be answered with a Yes, No, or Unsure. 
  1. What is your main reason for pursuing accreditation?
  2. What do you want to achieve by being accredited? 
  3. Do you believe you will have the support of your staff and families? 
  4. Are you willing to honestly assess your program and make necessary changes?
  5. Are you willing to commit time and finances necessary to succeed? 
  6. Do you have low staff turnover?
  7. Are families consistently satisfied with the service they receive? 
  8. Do you have defined policies and procedures for the program?
  9. Does your program have an educational philosophy and offer learning opportunities in all domains of early childhood development?
  10. Is health and safety a high priority for the program?
  11. Is your program in good standing with state licensing? 
  12. Are the staff members committed to their own professional development, even if it may mean returning to school?
Depending on how you answer each question will determine when you could begin the accreditation process. If you answered mostly no or unsure, then you would need to work on the areas to strengthen them before you begin. You could still use the tools in the accreditation document to help you work towards being ready to go through the accreditation process. 

If you answered yes to most of the questions, then you are probably ready to start the accreditation process. It is important that you have an answer for the first two questions and then you can develop a plan to meet goals for the rest of the questions. 

An ECE program does not have to be perfect to pursue accreditation, the process helps those involved reflect on the program based on the standards in the accreditation document and can guide toward improvement. The process should be set on a timeline that could take up to a year to complete before the actual accreditation visit takes place. The Pacific Union will be here to help you through the process, and we look forward to guiding you through the accreditation journey.  

If you have questions regarding the North American Division (NAD) Commission on Accreditation early childhood program accreditation or would like to consider starting the accreditation process, please contact your local conference office education associate or Julie Yamada at the Pacific Union Conference.

The two organizations that you will gain accreditation from are:

 

                 
 (AAA)                                   National Council for Private School Accreditation


Resources

Robertson, R., & Dressler, M. (2010). Prove It! Achieving Quality Recognition for Your Early Childhood Program. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press

ECE Closing Report Data 

Thank you for getting your closing report data in. 
Totals for the Pacific Union Conference:


Closing Cumulative Enrollment - 1232
Projected Summer Enrollment -  797
Pre-K Graduates - 337
SDA Students to attend an SDA Kindergarten - 80
Non-SDA Students to attend an SDA Kindergarten - 90
                                                 

California Early Childhood Education Legislation

 
by Jamie Sanbonmatsu 
Director of Valley View Children's Center - Arroyo Grande, CA 

I have been surprised over the past several years on the attention being directed toward Early Learning and Care of young children.  2019 – 2021 highlighted the importance of ECE in not only quality, but availability.  California and Federal legislation have been taking key roles in actively mapping paths going forward.   We are privileged and have a unique role as part of the early education of young children, not only academically, physically and emotionally, but spiritually.  What happens in legislation can impact our programs and ability to serve our children and families.  From my personal viewpoint, I believe it is important for us to remain informed on trends and actively advocate for what we know is best for families and children.
 
This legislative year is active in CA with 23 bills that include ECE in some fashion.  I am highlighting the top few that could directly or indirectly affect our programs.
(AB are bills that start in the State Assembly and SB are bills that start in the State Senate)
 
AB 22 - Childcare: preschool programs and transitional kindergarten: enrollment
AB 92 - Preschool and childcare and development services: family fees
AB 865 - Childcare services: alternative payment programs: direct deposits: reserve
funds.
SB 50 - Early learning and care: California Early Learning and Care Program
SB 246 - Early childhood education: reimbursement rates
 
2 year bills –
AB 321 - Childcare services: eligibility
AB 393 - Child Care and Development Programs Transition
SB 70 - Mandatory Kindergarten
 
AB 22 has potential to have the most impact on our programs as its focus is on free preschool for 4 year old children in the Local Education Agency (LEA) public system.  It does not have allowances as of yet supporting ‘Mixed Delivery”, which includes programs like ours, private, for profit and non- profit, and community family cares.  I am sure we would all agree that early learning for all children has advantages, as many studies on brain development have shown.  I know for my center on the central coast, it would affect the number of 4’s and  Pre-K age children attending and I would need to make adjustments.  I am not worried overall as I believe that this center will continue to thrive as long as God needs it here.
 
AB 865 – Alternative Payment – this is a revenue source many of our families can use and this could have a benefit for them in keeping their possibility for ‘school of choice’ affordable in the future.
 
What I am sharing is the importance of being aware so we can be best prepared for what is to come.  What we can actively do at this time beyond the awareness is advocate.  How do we do this - gather information, evaluate, reach out to our local legislators that represent us in our state capitols.  This also includes advocating at the Federal level as legislation they pass affects states.  I know this is a California perspective, but each state in our Union can have some impacts from legislation and the money being moved into states for ECE.

CA ECE Programs - New COVID-19 PIN
From Community Care Licensing


Community Care Licensing PIN
CDPH Mask Guidelines
CAL/OSHA ETS Guidance (See the FAQs)

Here are the highlights:
  • It does away with the July 2020 "Bluebook" guidance and replaces it with guidance from the CDPH and Cal/OSHA.
  • No masks are required for children and staff outdoors, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are recommended but not required for unvaccinated staff that cannot maintain 6' social distance outdoors per Cal/OSHA. Masks come back on if you have an outbreak and can't maintain social distance.
  • Masks are required for children over 2 years of age indoors, with exceptions for sleeping, eating, heat, medical reasons, and hearing impairment.
  • Masks are required for staff regardless of vaccination status, indoors.
  • No more child physical distancing or stable group requirements, but a recommendation to keep groups small and stable where possible. Default to Title 22 group size and ratio if you cannot follow stable group best practices.
  • No more July 2020 cleaning, disinfection, and handwashing and hygiene guidance. Follow the Title 22 guidance.

Save the Date


What: ECE Directors' Workshop
When: November 9-10
Where: Ontario Airport Hotel - Ontario, CA

Join us for fellowship, updates, workshops, and networking. We look forward to seeing you there! Be on the look out for more information soon. 
 
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Pacific Union Conference ECEC Division · PO Box 5005 · Westlake Village, CA 91361 · USA

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