KINGSTON, R.I.– October 7, 1998–The University of Rhode Island Child Development Center (CDC) was recently granted re-accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This designation has been achieved by about only 5 percent of early childhood programs nationwide. “Although the CDC has always met state licensing standards, accreditation by the national association indicates the CDC is a high quality program,” said Susan Warford, coordinator of the URI center. “Association accreditation, a national and voluntary system, indicates that the CDC operates in accordance with the standards defined by the early childhood profession.” To achieve accreditation, the CDC staff members at the Kingston Campus engaged in a comprehensive process of internal self-study, invited external professional review, and were certified as meeting the association’s criteria for high quality early childhood programs, Warford said. “The staff of the CDC demonstrated its professional commitment to continued self-evaluation and self-improvement and to striving for excellence for young children and their families,” Warford said. The CDC first achieved accreditation in May of 1995, which was valid for three years. The re-accreditation will be valid until May 31, 2001. The CDC runs pre-school and kindergarten programs at its facilities on the Kingston Campus and at the Allen Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education in Providence. The Dr. Pat Feinstein Child Development Center in Providence has not been accredited because a facility must be open for three full years before the process can begin. However, the Providence facility follows the same guidelines as the one in Kingston. Barbara Willer, spokesperson for the national association, said the accreditation process considers all aspects of a center’s operation-including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, administration and the physical environment. “But the greatest emphasis is on the children’s relationships with the staff and how the program helps each child grow and learn, intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally,” Willer said. -XXX- For Further Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116