Pre-kindergarten programs at Lindley and Washington elementary schools have earned re-accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.

“Fort Wayne Community Schools has long been committed to providing quality early childhood education,” said Kimberly Brooks, Title I Manager for FWCS. “Receiving this designation allows families in our community to know that children in our programs are getting the best care and learning experiences from well-trained instructors.”

All 17 of the district’s Title I pre-K programs, as well as the program at Whitney Young Early Childhood Center, are NAEYC accredited. The pre-K program at Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center is accredited by the American Montessori Society.

To earn NAEYC accreditation, programs undergo an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. The programs received NAEYC re-accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure they met each of the standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts five years.

In the years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs nationwide are currently accredited by NAEYC, about 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.

The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible. For more information about NAEYC Accreditation, visit www.naeyc.org/academy.

FWCS is currently enrolling students for the 2018-19 school year in the half-day pre-K programs at 15 schools and full-day pre-K programs at Adams and Study elementary schools. All 17 elementary schools with Title I pre-K will have spots available for students qualifying for the On My Way Pre-K grant. On My Way Pre-K grants provide free high-quality pre-K for 4-year-olds of eligible families in Allen County. Families will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to apply online go to www.onmywayprek.org.