DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Michigan – Dearborn Heights Montessori Center (DHMC) announced that it has earned a renewed five-year accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the country’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.
According to Kay Neff, DHMC’s head of schools, the accreditation process is a rigorous one that includes an extensive self-study to measure its program and services against the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. The school also received an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure the school’s program meets each of the 10 standards and is subject to unannounced visits anytime during the five-year period.
DHMC was first accredited by NAEYC in 1998. The new accreditation includes the school’s toddler program which was introduced in 2010. DHMC’s sister school Plymouth-Canton Montessori also earned the new five-year accreditation.
Preschooler Allison Shamus is busy with a practical life activity at Dearborn Heights Montessori Center. She takes a pitcher of dry beans and measures them evenly into each cup.
“Receiving the NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are receiving the best care and early learning experiences possible,” said Neff.
NAEYC reports that more than 6,000 programs nationwide, serving 600,000 young children, are accredited. DHMC and Plymouth-Canton Montessori School are among only 131 NAEYC accredited programs in Michigan. The association’s program standards and criteria encompass a high level of quality, accountability and service for parents and children in child care programs.
“We also received several commendations from NAEYC including establishing and fostering reciprocal family and community relationships,” added Neff. “This is indeed a tribute to our families, teachers and staff.”
For additional information and programs available at Dearborn Heights Montessori Center, call 313-359-3000 or visit www.dhmontessori.org.