The Edgar L. and Rheta A. Berkley Child and Family Development Center at UMKC has received an outstanding assessment from the National Association of the Education of Young Children. The Center received high marks in each of the ten categories, with nine receiving 100%+ approval ratings.
Polly Prendergast, senior director of programs/projects at the Berkley Center, says the accreditation is significant for many reasons. Beyond being an unbiased measure of the quality of education, it is a valuable tool for people searching for high quality early education.
“NAEYC Accreditation helps parents find the best possible early childhood experience for their child. Also, it is a mark of quality for the teaching staff and administration,” Prendergast says. “Schools and organizations who voluntarily go through a rigorous accreditation process of evaluation are demonstrating their level of competence in a field and their commitment to providing the highest level of quality in early learning.”
“The faculty and staff at Berkley come to work every day with a passion to make change in these little people.”
NAEYC assesses child care agencies in ten areas; relationships, curriculum, teaching, assessment of child progress, teachers, family and community, relationships, physical environment, leadership and management and health.
Prendergast and her colleagues were thrilled with their accreditation results.
“While we have received high scores consistently over the years, it is thrilling to know our hard work and continuing quality improvement is validated.”
The Berkley Center’s parents recognize and celebrate the faculty and staff’s commitment to excellence.
“The faculty and staff at Berkley come to work every day with a passion to make change in these little people,” Katie Anton, UMKC director of scholarships and Berkley parent says. “They are intentional in everything they do and strive daily to grow healthy minds and bodies.”
The University of Missouri–Kansas City Edgar L. and Rheta A. Berkley Child and Family Development Center was established in 1993. The UMKC School of Education and an interdisciplinary team of experts worked together to develop a state-of-the-art early childhood program.
Berkley is part of UMKC School of Education, and serves as a learning laboratory for early childhood students. As a NAEYC nationally accredited program, Berkley enrolls children of UMKC employees, students, and the community. We offer full day twelve month a year early care and education. Building an equal relationship between family, child, and teacher is a cornerstone of our philosophy.