For families looking for child care, accreditation is an important indicator of quality.
Accreditation is also a strategy for quality improvement.
Centers and homes seeking accreditation must first undertake a rigorous, self-study process. With input from parents, the director or provider, and all staff, they evaluate their policies, practices, facilities, and materials against standards of excellence and make any needed improvements. The self-study report, demonstrating that the program meets all of the accreditation criteria, is then validated by an outside observer or validator, who visits the program and may make further suggestions. A professional panel reviews the reports and accredits qualifying programs. Because of its demonstrated potential for improving quality, many states and localities are rewarding accreditation by paying higher rates for taking subsidized children to programs that have achieved this standard.