The Child Development Lab School at the Plano Campus (Spring Creek) was one of three National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited programs selected for the NAEYC accreditation tour during the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC) state conference held in Frisco, Sept. 26-28.
“I recommended Collin College’s Child Development Lab School when we were in the planning stages because I was very familiar with its accredited lab school and knew it had a high-quality early childhood program providing a strong educational foundation for all students,” Prerna Richards, NAEYC accreditation tour coordinator said. “We were looking for three different types of programs to visit and with the lab school utilizing the Reggio-Project approach, we wanted to include it in the tour.”
Additionally, the lab school was selected based on the following:
- Longstanding NAEYC accreditation
- Being a unique program that serves as a learning site for future teachers, as well as 30 children
- Having a reputation as a quality program
According to Barbara Batista, child development lab school director, the greatest impact was the rich conversations Paula Braaten, child development lab school assistant director, and Batista exchanged with centers who are considering NAEYC accreditation. “Several programs want to come back with their staff and tour for a longer period of time. We have a tour scheduled for December,” Batista said. Braaten added, “To be NAEYC accredited means you have chosen to be a center that respects each family, values their unique family culture, and strives for developmentally appropriateness. It means each teacher has committed to continue to grow and develop professionally and use this ongoing education in the classroom. It means administrators put the safety of each child and the quality of care over enrollment numbers.”
Richards added, “Everyone loved the tour. The lab school was the clear favorite among all the schools visited. The classrooms were so inviting, welcoming and very thoughtfully arranged, encouraging the natural curiosity and imagination all children have. The classrooms were organized and supported child-initiated exploration and discovery, an essential element in any quality program.”
Paula Barnes, NAEYC accreditation chair and accreditation tour coordinator, describes the value of an accredited child care facility. “It makes a statement to the children and families being served that the program is ‘going above and beyond’ in terms of quality. All licensed child care programs must meet minimum standards, but that’s what they are – ‘minimum’ – the least you can do to stay in operation. Accreditation means that there is a strong commitment to meeting quality in standards that are based on a national model set forth by NAEYC. These standards of quality are based on years of research and dedication from early childhood professionals who have identified criteria within each of the 10 standards that make a statement about quality programs for young children.” The NAEYC 10 standards include relationships; curriculum; teaching; assessment of child progress; health and safety; staff competencies, preparation and support; families; community relationships; physical environment; and leaderships and management.
Following all three tours, participants were divided into groups. Batista and Braaten facilitated two different groups and Batista said, “The feedback I received about the lab school was that the classrooms were inviting, engaging, and full of great ideas. Many commented on our documentation boards outside each classroom, community wall that displays pictures of parents volunteering in the classroom, and family events we host each year – Family Feast and Week of the Young Child Carnival. The feedback was tremendous regarding the quality of the displays.
“We are very fortunate to have the support of the college to attend the TXAEYC State conference every year. All full-time staff benefit from the quality training, networking opportunities, and time shared with colleagues,” said Batista.
The Child Development Lab School was established in 1989 as a training site for students studying in the fields of child development and education. Lab school teachers demonstrate high-quality instruction to students and provide opportunities for the students to practice the theory and methods learned in their college courses. The Collin College Child Development Lab School is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is licensed by Texas Health and Human Services. In addition, the lab school partners with other programs, such as Psychology and Physical Education that utilize the lab school for educational research and study. The lab school also affords opportunities for students attending local universities to complete their lab, service learning, and practicum courses.