Curriculum Standards

These Standards are to be used as orientation to the Accreditation Process. All Standards are in the Accreditation Manual with Indicators that serve as evidence the Standard is met. Programs considering pursuing accreditation through the National Accreditation Commission should enroll in Self-Study.

D1. Written lesson plans reflect planning that promotes children’s overall development.

D2. Written observations are made on each child’s actions, abilities, and knowledge as the child engages in the classroom and in routine outdoor settings.

D3. Written assessment is made of each child’s growth and development.

D4. Accommodations to address the needs of individual children are made in collaboration with families, administrators, and outside specialists.

D5. Unplanned teaching opportunities are recognized and used by teachers to extend children’s learning.

D6. The daily schedule provides a predictable routine that is responsive to the children.

D7. Transitions are planned and smoothly implemented.

D8. The arrangement of the classroom encourages children to become engaged and promotes child-centered learning experiences.

D9. Materials are selected to advance the goals of the lesson plan and build on children’s current knowledge and skills.

D10. Language is promoted through daily opportunities for communicating, listening, and understanding.

D11. Reading is promoted through daily experiences with books, print, and phonology.

D12. Writing is promoted through daily opportunities to experience a print-rich environment.

D13. Math concepts are promoted through daily hands-on experience with number, pattern, shape, spatial relationships, measurement, classification, and comparison.

D14. Science learning is promoted through daily opportunities for thinking, reasoning, and experimentation.

D15. Social studies is promoted through a shared sense of community and an appreciation for diversity.

D16. Creativity is promoted through daily opportunities for self-expression, symbolic representation, and development of aesthetic sensibility.

D17. Gross motor skills are promoted through daily opportunities for physical activity.

D18. Fine motor skills are promoted through daily opportunities to use manipulatives and practice eye-hand coordination.

D19. Healthy habits are encouraged to promote good physical health and development.

D20. Technology use supports learning.