National Association for the Education of Young Children Degree Accreditation
The ECE Program at SMC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), effective September 2017. The accreditation process involves a comprehensive self-study to align the program with the 2010 NAEYC Standards for Initial and Advanced Professional Preparation Programs.
Accredited Programs
The following programs at Santa Monica College are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org. The accreditation term runs from September 2017 through July 2024.
- A.S.-T. Early Childhood Education
- A.S. Early Childhood Studies
- A.S. Infant/Toddler Teacher
- A.S. Early Intervention/Special Education Assistant
The mission of the NAEYC Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs system is to set a standard of excellence for early childhood education degree programs and to recognize programs that have demonstrated that they meet this standard, thereby benefiting the programs, and young children, families, and communities.
2020 NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Handbook
NAEYC Standards
Standard 1 - Promoting child development and learning
Standard 2 - Building family and community relationships
Standard 3 - Observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families
Standard 4 - Using developmentally effective approaches to connect with children and families
Standard 5 - Using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum
Standard 6 - Becoming a Professional
Standard 7 - Early Childhood Field Experiences
Program Outcomes
Students completing one of the accredited degree programs will demonstrate competence in the knowledge and skills defined in the 2010 NAEYC Standards for Initial and Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs. As part of the Early Childhood Education achieving and maintaining NAEYC accreditation, we are required to report annually on the program's assessment of candidates, related to the 2010 NAEYC Standards for Initial and Advanced Preparation Programs, including outcomes specific to each accredited degree program.
2017-2018 Annual Accreditation Report - Santa Monica College
2018-2019 Annual Accreditation Report - Santa Monica College
2019-2020 Annual Accreditation Report - Santa Monica College
2020-2021 Annual Accreditation Report - Santa Monica College