NAEYC Accreditation Guide 2026: What It Means for Your Daycare Choice

When searching for daycare, you'll often see "NAEYC Accredited" mentioned as a quality indicator. But what does NAEYC accreditation actually mean? Is an accredited program automatically better? Should you only consider accredited daycares?

This guide explains everything about NAEYC accreditation in 2026: what it is, what it measures, how to find accredited programs, and how much weight to give it in your search.

Table of Contents

• What Is NAEYC Accreditation
• What NAEYC Measures
• Finding Accredited Programs
• Other Types of Accreditation
• Accreditation vs Licensing
• Should You Prioritize Accreditation
• Questions to Ask About Quality

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What Is NAEYC Accreditation

Understanding the basics.

About NAEYC

The organization:

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Largest early childhood education organization in the US
• Founded in 1926
• Sets professional standards
• Accredits programs meeting those standards

Their mission:

• Promote high-quality early learning
• Support early childhood professionals
• Set standards for the field

What Accreditation Means

When a program is NAEYC accredited:

• Has voluntarily undergone evaluation
• Meets standards exceeding most state requirements
• Demonstrates commitment to quality
• Participates in ongoing improvement
• Must renew every 5 years

The Numbers

NAEYC accreditation (2026): | Statistic | Number | |-----------|--------| | Programs accredited | ~7,000 nationwide | | Children in accredited programs | ~750,000 | | Percentage of all programs | ~8-10% |

Most daycares are NOT accredited — and that doesn't automatically make them bad.

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What NAEYC Measures

The 10 program standards.

1. Relationships

What it means:

• Warm, responsive interactions between teachers and children
• Positive relationships among children
• Staff relationships are professional and supportive

What you'd see:

• Teachers at children's level
• Genuine engagement
• Conflict resolution support
• Warm greetings and goodbyes

2. Curriculum

What it means:

• Written curriculum with goals
• Developmentally appropriate activities
• All areas of development addressed
• Individual needs considered

What you'd see:

• Planned activities with purpose
• Balance of structured and free play
• Materials for different learning styles
• Differentiation for varying abilities

3. Teaching

What it means:

• Intentional teaching strategies
• Child-centered approaches
• Responsive to children's interests
• Ongoing observation and adjustment

What you'd see:

• Teachers scaffolding learning
• Open-ended questions
• Following children's lead
• Varied instructional approaches

4. Assessment of Child Progress

What it means:

• Ongoing observation and documentation
• Developmental screenings
• Information used to plan
• Families informed of progress

What you'd see:

• Portfolios of children's work
• Regular progress reports
• Developmental concerns addressed
• Family conferences

5. Health

What it means:

• Clean, sanitary environment
• Illness prevention practices
• Healthy eating habits
• Physical activity promotion
• Mental health support

What you'd see:

• Hand washing routines
• Clean surfaces and materials
• Nutritious meals/snacks
• Active play time
• Calm-down spaces

6. Teachers (Staff Qualifications)

What it means:

• Teachers have early childhood education
• Ongoing professional development
• Adequate compensation consideration
• Low turnover efforts

What you'd see:

• Staff with degrees or credentials
• Engaged, professional teachers
• Training opportunities
• Relatively stable staff

7. Families

What it means:

• Partnership with families
• Regular communication
• Family involvement welcomed
• Cultural responsiveness
• Respect for diverse family structures

What you'd see:

• Open-door policy
• Regular updates
• Family events
• Welcoming environment
• Representation of diverse families

8. Community Relationships

What it means:

• Connections to community resources
• Transitions supported
• Referrals when needed
• Local partnerships

What you'd see:

• Community visitors
• Field trips
• Connection to local resources
• Kindergarten transition support

9. Physical Environment

What it means:

• Safe indoor and outdoor spaces
• Age-appropriate materials
• Well-organized classrooms
• Accessible environment

What you'd see:

• Safety measures in place
• Varied learning areas
• Quality materials
• Appropriate furniture

10. Leadership and Management

What it means:

• Qualified program leadership
• Sustainable business practices
• Staff support systems
• Continuous improvement

What you'd see:

• Competent administration
• Staff feel supported
• Policies in place
• Responsive to concerns

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Finding Accredited Programs

How to search.

NAEYC Search Tool

Official search:

• Visit NAEYC.org/accredited
• Search by zip code
• Filter by program type
• View accreditation status

What to Look For

Verify accreditation:

• Ask to see certificate
• Check NAEYC database
• Note accreditation dates
• Ask about renewal status

Not All Locations Are Accredited

Important:

• Chain brands may have some accredited locations
• Each location is evaluated separately
• Ask specifically about that location
• Don't assume based on brand

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Other Types of Accreditation

NAEYC isn't the only option.

National Accreditation Options

| Organization | Focus | Programs | |--------------|-------|----------| | NAEYC | Early childhood (birth-8) | Centers, schools | | NAFCC | Family child care | Home-based | | NAC (NACCP) | Faith-based programs | Religious settings | | NECPA | Programs of any type | Centers, homes | | AMS/AMI | Montessori programs | Montessori schools | | COA | Head Start | Head Start programs |

State Quality Rating Systems

Many states have:

• Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
• Star ratings (1-5 typically)
• Based on state-specific standards
• May overlap with national accreditation

Examples:

• Texas: Texas Rising Star
• California: Quality Counts California
• Colorado: Colorado Shines
• New York: QUALITYstarsNY

Program-Specific Certifications

Other quality indicators:

• Montessori accreditation (AMS, AMI)
• Reggio-inspired certifications
• Nature-based certifications
• Religious program standards

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Accreditation vs Licensing

Understanding the difference.

Licensing = Minimum Requirements

What licensing means:

• Legal permission to operate
• Meets state minimum standards
• Subject to inspections
• Can be revoked for violations

Licensing covers:

• Health and safety basics
• Staff-to-child ratios
• Physical space requirements
• Background checks
• Basic training requirements

Accreditation = Higher Standards

What accreditation adds:

• Voluntary process
• Exceeds minimum requirements
• Curriculum and teaching standards
• Relationship and environment quality
• Ongoing improvement commitment

The Gap

Difference between licensing and accreditation:

| Aspect | Licensed Only | NAEYC Accredited | |--------|---------------|------------------| | Staff qualifications | Basic requirements | Higher education standards | | Curriculum | May be minimal | Must be comprehensive | | Assessment | Not required | Ongoing child assessment | | Family engagement | Basic communication | Partnership approach | | Environment | Safe and clean | Developmentally appropriate | | Ratios | State minimum | Often better than minimum |

Neither Is Perfect

Licensing limitations:

• Minimum standards only
• Inspections are periodic
• Violations can go unnoticed
• Varies by state

Accreditation limitations:

• Snapshot in time
• Self-reporting involved
• Not all great programs seek it
• Expensive and time-consuming

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Should You Prioritize Accreditation

The honest assessment.

When Accreditation Matters Most

Prioritize accreditation if:

• You want external validation of quality
• You're comparing many similar options
• Location has lots of accredited choices
• You value formal educational standards
• You're unsure how to evaluate quality

When Accreditation Matters Less

Accreditation isn't everything if:

• Non-accredited program has excellent reputation
• You can personally evaluate quality
• Program has other quality indicators
• Your child has specific needs met elsewhere
• Location/schedule needs outweigh other factors

What Research Says

Studies suggest:

• Accredited programs score higher on quality measures
• But relationship between accreditation and child outcomes is modest
• Many factors beyond accreditation matter
• Teacher-child interactions may matter most

The Reality

Many excellent programs aren't accredited because:

• Cost and time of accreditation process
• Small programs can't afford it
• Some philosophies don't align perfectly
• Quality can exist without external validation

Some accredited programs may:

• Have declined since accreditation
• Meet minimums but not excel
• Have staff turnover since evaluation
• Not maintain standards consistently

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Questions to Ask About Quality

Beyond accreditation.

Questions That Reveal Quality

About relationships:

• "How do teachers build relationships with children?"
• "How do you handle challenging behavior?"
• "What's your approach to social-emotional development?"

About curriculum:

• "What curriculum do you use?"
• "How do you balance play and academics?"
• "How do you meet individual children's needs?"

About staff:

• "What qualifications do your teachers have?"
• "What's your staff turnover rate?"
• "How do you support teacher development?"

About communication:

• "How will I hear about my child's day?"
• "How do you handle concerns from parents?"
• "How often do you do conferences?"

What to Observe

During your visit:

• [ ] Are teachers warm and engaged?
• [ ] Are children happy and busy?
• [ ] Is the environment organized and clean?
• [ ] Are materials accessible and age-appropriate?
• [ ] Do you see purposeful activities?
• [ ] How is conflict handled?
• [ ] What does the noise level tell you?

Trust Your Gut

Your observations matter:

• You know your child
• You can sense authenticity
• Quality is visible
• Accreditation is one data point

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Making Your Decision

Accreditation as One Factor

Use accreditation to:

• Narrow initial search
• Identify programs committed to quality
• Have baseline confidence

Don't use accreditation to:

• Automatically exclude non-accredited programs
• Assume accredited programs are perfect
• Skip your own evaluation

Building Your Quality Checklist

| Quality Indicator | How to Evaluate | |-------------------|-----------------| | Accreditation | NAEYC database, certificate | | Licensing | State website, inspection reports | | Reputation | Parent reviews, references | | Staff quality | Credentials, observe interactions | | Environment | Tour, observe | | Communication | Initial responsiveness | | Curriculum | Ask questions, see materials | | Values alignment | Philosophy discussion |

The Bottom Line

The best daycare for your child:

• May or may not be accredited
• Feels right when you visit
• Meets your family's needs
• Has quality you can observe
• Builds trust over time

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Resources

• Find Daycare Near You
• NAEYC Accreditation Search
• Questions to Ask Daycare Providers
• How to Read Inspection Reports

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Last updated: December 2025