A Look at the Revisions to the“ Early Childhood Program Standards” Position Statement
› Although the standards hadn’ t been revised since 2011, feedback from the field indicated that a major overhaul to our Early Childhood Program Standards wasn’ t necessary. However, changes were welcome and needed. Therefore, with guidance from the field, we made targeted refinements to keep the statement in line with current research while increasing its accessibility, utility, and alignment with other position statements and NAEYC’ s early learning program accreditation.
› In particular, this position statement outlines standards that guide the Early Learning Program Quality Assessment and Accreditation System’ s criteria. The updated quality assessment and accreditation items and the revised position statement reinforce one another, ensuring that programs meet robust, evidence-based benchmarks.
› The updated statement reaffirms key principles, including developmentally appropriate practice, cultural responsiveness, and high-quality standards for all— tenets that remain foundational to early learning programs operating with excellence and equity.
Take Action
› Explore the current“ Early Childhood Program Standards” statement at NAEYC. org / resources / position-statements / earlychildhood-program-standards. Consider how you are upholding these standards in your early learning environment.
› See how these statements align with the streamlined quality assessment and accreditation model at NAEYC. org / accreditation / quality-assessment-and-accreditation.
› If you’ re committed to shaping our field’ s core principles, watch for future calls for input or working group participation— your insights and your voice matter for children, families, and the field.
About the Author
Stacey French-Lee, PhD, is a clinical associate professor at Georgia State University in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She is also the executive director of the two GSU campus child development centers.
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Summer 2025 Young Children 61