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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Debra Jo Hailey
NSU Head Start Center
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-0888
10/23/2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES-Northwestern State University's Head Start Center has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children - the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.
NSU Head Start is a collaborative effort of Northwestern State University, the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury and the Office of Community Service's Head Start program. The staff includes Pat Alexander, Catherine Coutee, Debra Jo Hailey and Rose Matthews. The program serves the families of children ranging in age from three to five. Children reaching the age of three or four on or before September 30, 2003 are eligible for the Head Start program.
"We're proud to be accredited by NAEYC, and recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Patricia Taylor, director of Natchitoches Parish Head Start. "NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences."
NAEYC created its accreditation program in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality childcare and early education programs. To earn NAEYC's accreditation, a program conducts a self-study to determine how well it meets the standards. After necessary improvements are made, the program is observed by independent, professional validators, and then reviewed by a national panel. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a three-year period.
"The heart of NAEYC accreditation focuses on the child's experience," said Cheryl McBride, assistant professor of family and consumer sciences at NSU. "The process carefully considers all aspects of the program including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, physical environment and family involvement."
"The Head Start program is designed to help children grow and learn intellectually, as well as physically, socially and emotionally," added Alexander.
Because of the quality standards achieved by this program, it is used as a learning laboratory for early childhood majors. Kristi Ware, a current student teacher in the program, feels good about the experiences she has had while in training at NSU Head Start and is confident that the children are getting rich, quality experiences.
"This is a perfect example of a culturally diverse, loving, developmentally appropriate environment; just like we learn about in our Early Childhood classes," said Ware, who is from Natchitoches "It's an excellent model for me as I learn and grow as a teacher."
Being located on Northwestern campus certainly helps make life easier for non-traditional students at Northwestern with young children. Keri Patrick, an education major at Northwestern from Natchitoches, has a four-year-old daughter, Kaitlin, enrolled at NSU Head Start.
"Juggling motherhood and academics has been challenging, but the Head Start program has alleviated many of the stresses of this juggling act," said Patrick. "I especially appreciate being able to drop in during the day between classes and become more involved in my child's school life."
More than 8,000 early childhood programs - serving nearly three-quarters of a million children are currently accredited by NAEYC.
"In recent years, we've seen a growing number of child care and preschool programs earning NAEYC Accreditation," said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. "By earning accreditation, NSU Head Start Center has become a leader in a national effort to raise the quality of early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start."
For further information contact the NSU Head Start Center at (318) 357-0888 or the Natchitoches Parish Head Start office at (318) 357-2213.