We are excited to announce our recent National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation. This significant achievement highlights our commitment to excellence in early childhood education and the unique population we serve. We focus on families who face various challenges, offering our services free of charge to those who meet specific income criteria. Many of the children we support have health issues, and to ensure they receive the best care, we have a full-time nurse on staff.

  • Relationships: Promoting positive relationships among children, staff, and families. 
  • Curriculum: Implementing a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate curriculum. 
  • Teaching Practices: Employing effective teaching practices that cater to individual needs. 
  • Assessment: Conducting ongoing assessments of children’s progress. 
  • Health and Nutrition: Prioritizing children’s health and nutrition. 
  • Staff Competencies: Ensuring staff members are qualified and competent. 
  • Family and Community Relationships: Fostering strong connections with families and the community. 
  • Physical Environment: Maintaining a safe and nurturing physical space for learning. 
  • Leadership and Management: Upholding strong leadership and management practices. 
  • Continuous Improvement: Engaging in continuous improvement and professional development. 

Achieving accreditation is no easy feat; it reflects the dedication of our staff and the strength of our educational approach. This accomplishment underscores our focus on providing the best possible environment for all young learners to thrive, particularly those who need it most. We are dedicated to empowering families and fostering a supportive community for both children and families facing economic, racial, and health challenges, helping them thrive together. 

“This accomplishment represents the pinnacle of excellence, both programmatically and operationally.  Our early learning program curricula have always been federally regulated.  However, accreditation layers in the practice, policy and research that help us ensure that our service to children and their families remains robust.  Additionally, it provides a national network of resources, support, and accountability.  To speak to the gravity of this accomplishment, the agency has been positioning itself to achieve this milestone for ten years.  To finally bring it over the finish line is a testament to the skill and dedication of the team that we have in place and the families that we serve,” said Cinaiya Stubbs, Children’s Place Association CEO & President. 

Our team’s dedication and hard work to meet these standards has resulted in this well-earned recognition. We look forward to continuing this journey of excellence and expanding our impact on early childhood education.   

“Achieving NAEYC accreditation is a major milestone, signifying a high level of commitment to quality early childhood education.  This accreditation was achieved by collaborative efforts of the entire early learning team over a significant period to reach this high standard of quality in education and family support, especially for those facing multiple barriers.  The entire Early Education team consists of overachievers and this success would not be possible without the dedication of every staff member.  This recognition emphasizes our commitment to ongoing excellence and our ambition to remain a leading educational institution in Chicago.  I give complete credit to the entire team for their hard work and resilience throughout the process. The team is not complacent and plans to continue striving for excellence beyond this achievement.  I want to give a huge shout out to the entire team for the extra work, late nights, hard days, doing the things we may not have seen and sticking through all the ups and downs.  We said we got this, and we did!  It was all worth it.  Thank you and I appreciate each one of you from the bottom of my heart,” added Porsche Snowden, Children’s Place Association’s Director of Education and Support Services and Operations.  

This accreditation is a shining example of our continued growth and dedication to providing exceptional early childhood education. We remain committed to delivering the highest quality of care and service, ensuring our children, families, and community thrive for years.