Moreno Valley College’s Early Childhood Education Center has received national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 

 

The Early Childhood Education Center is open to children ages two to five years of age and is open to the community. In the city of Moreno Valley, the child population experiences higher levels of challenging circumstances that may negatively impact lifetime educational outcomes, such as homelessness (19.2 percent vs. 4 percent in Riverside County and 3.8 percent at the state level), financial challenges, and additionally Moreno Valley is considered a childcare desert — this is when the need for care and early education exceeds the opportunities to enroll. 

 

While national accreditation is not mandatory, the College voluntarily underwent a comprehensive internal self-study and continuous quality improvement process. Our program had to demonstrate quality by meeting the 10 NAEYC program standards. These standards are research-based best practices for young children’s development.

 

 Earning the accreditation, which is good for five years, also benefits the students studying to obtain an Early Childhood Education Degree. Students can include on their resumes that their observation and practicum hours were completed at a nationally accredited center. Teachers and program staff will benefit from the focus on continuous improvement, which provides an avenue for self-reflection and continued professional growth.