PULLMAN – WSU’s Child Development Laboratory is tackling the voluntary process of national accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
“As a land-grant institution and leader in early childhood education, WSU recognizes the importance of providing nationally accredited programs to the children, families and communities in the state of Washington,” said Brenda Boyd, assistant professor of human development at WSU.
To achieve NAEYC accreditation, the Child Development Laboratory will be measured against national standards on education, health and safety. The process, directed by Boyd and lead instructors Shannon Rusca and Adair Lawrence, will take approximately 18 months to complete.
“NAEYC accreditation represents the mark of quality in early childhood education,” said Boyd. “Early childhood experiences – from birth to age 8 – have an enormous impact on children’s lifelong learning and positively contribute to their health and development. Early childhood education programs that meet NAEYC standards benefit children with greater readiness for and success in school.”
The Child Development Laboratory provides a variety of cognitive, physical, and social experiences for young children, as well as helps WSU students advance their knowledge of child development through research.
