(San Antonio, TX, April 22, 2009) – The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) granted accreditation to San Antonio College’s Early Childhood Studies associate degree, indicating the program excels at preparing students for careers in early childhood education.

This is the first associate degree program in Texas to receive accreditation. Early Childhood assistant professor Sandra Enders said the department spent almost two years working to elevate the program to the rigorous NAEYC standards. Among the challenges was the creation of rubrics for assignments and changing the department’s leadership model to a shared one. Co-chairs of the department are Ellen Marshall, Ph.D., and Ana DeHoyos-O’Connor.

“It validates that we are good and keeps us on the cutting edge of the industry,” Enders said. “Our students will be able to more easily be able to transfer to a four-year university in the early childhood field.”  

   The NAEYC, based in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to improving the well being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for children from birth through age 8.  Founded in 1926, NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 100,000 members.

The SAC Early Childhood Center, an on-site educational lab facility for the Department of Early Childhood Studies, is also accredited by the NAEYC.    

For more information about this program, call  (210) 486-0500 or visit www.accd.edu/sac/ecs