LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool Receives Reaccreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children

February 23, 2023

BATON ROUGE, LA— LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP) announces that it earned reaccreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the premier early childhood education organization in the United States. According to the NAEYC, 18,911 children in Louisiana are students in state funded PreK programs. 

These children are the future of Louisiana. These children deserve the highest quality education.

As a model demonstration school on LSU’s flagship campus, ECELP is committed to the care and education of the 178 enrolled children, but also sharing recommended practice with teachers, administrators, and centers/schools across the entire state. 

ECELP has consistently proven itself through high academic achievement, outstanding faculty members, and devotion to Louisiana’s young children. For these reasons, LSU ECELP is one of only 21 centers in the state of Louisiana to earn NAEYC accreditation. 

“The teachers and staff at LSU ECELP work diligently to be an outstanding example of what it truly means to be accredited by the NAEYC. ECELP is devoted to the mission of educating young Louisiana students by fostering relationships between students and teachers, engaging in effective teaching programs, collaborating with childrens’ families, and so much more. I am excited to continue working with the laboratory preschool to ensure it is the best it can be for the children in our care and for all Louisiana students.”- Cynthia DiCarlo, PhD, Executive Director of the LSU ECELP 

The NAEYC requires extensive standards for early learning programs to achieve NAEYC accreditation. According to their website, the following 10 standards must by the program: 

1. Relationships. The program promotes positive relationships between all children and adults to encourage each child’s sense of individual worth and belonging as part of a community and to foster each child’s ability to contribute as a responsible community member.
2. Curriculum. The program implements a curriculum that is consistent with its goals for children and that promotes learning and development in each of the following areas: social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive.
3. Teaching.  The program uses a variety of developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and effective teaching approaches that enhance each child’s learning and development in the context of the program’s curriculum goals.
4. Assessment. The program uses a variety of formal and informal assessment approaches to provide information on children’s learning and development. These assessments occur in the context of reciprocal communications between teachers and families, and with sensitivity to the cultural contexts in which children are developing. 
5. Health. The program promotes the nutrition and health of children and protects children and staff from illness.
6. Staff Competencies, Preparation, and Support. The program employs and supports a teaching and administrative staff that have the qualifications, knowledge, and professional commitment necessary to promote children’s learning and development and to support families’ diverse needs and interests.
7. Families. The program establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with each child’s family to foster children’s development in all settings. These relationships are sensitive to family composition, language, and culture.
8. Community relationships. The program establishes relationships with and uses the resources of the children’s communities to support the achievement of program goals.
9. Physical environment. The program has a safe and healthful environment that provides appropriate and well maintained indoor and outdoor physical environments. The environment includes facilities, equipment, and materials to facilitate child and staff learning and development.
10. Leadership and management. The program effectively implements policies, procedures, and systems that support stable staff and strong personnel, fiscal, and program management so all children, families, and staff have high-quality experiences. 

LSU ECELP looks forward to continuing to create positive growth among its students by being an example of what it means to be an NAEYC accredited school.

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About LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP)

The LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP) is a Reggio Emilia - inspired research facility within LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education and is aligned with the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs in Early Childhood Education. The ECELP is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which is the leading early childhood professional organization in the nation. The ECELP serves as a laboratory for the generation of cutting-edge research in the areas of child development and education. It also serves as a training site for undergraduate and graduate students as a model demonstration site within the community. Through its support of research and teaching, the ECELP generates and disseminates knowledge about best practices in early childhood education to support children’s development and learning. For more information, visit the ECELP.

About LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education (SOE)

A school of the College of Human Sciences & Education, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. Besides providing graduate certification in early childhood education and instructional coaching, the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education offers a master’s degree in arts, arts in teaching, education (MEd), education in counseling (MEd), certificate of education specialist (EdS) and PhD. The School’s mission is to prepare educational professionals to be leaders, practitioners, and scholars knowledgeable in contemporary educational issues.

Visit the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education.

Contact:
Gracyn Austin
gaustin@lsu.edu