Campus Center for Young Children receives re-accreditation

The Campus Center for Young Children (CCYC) at Goshen College was recently reaccredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.

The NAEYC accreditation standards are met by only seven percent of early childhood programs, and CCYC is one of only a handful of early childhood programs in Elkhart County to achieve and maintain NAEYC accreditation. CCYC was first accredited in 2000.

“NAEYC accreditation is considered the ‘gold standard’ for accreditation,” said Janet Whalen Couch, executive director of CCYC. “The process is detailed and rigorous and is a testament to the dedication CCYC has to providing the highest quality early care and education to the children and families we serve. We have a tremendously dedicated staff of highly educated teachers who work tirelessly to ensure that each child receives what they need to become whom they are meant to be.”

Now in its 20th year of operation, CCYC formed in 1997 as a joint effort between Goshen College and College Mennonite Church and is located in the College Mennonite Church building. It offers early care and education programs for around 100 children ages 12 months through 5 years at its Goshen College location and 6 weeks through 5 years at its second location on the north side of Goshen at Arbor Ridge Apartments. CCYC provides care on a sliding scale, often subsidizing costs for families who may not be able to afford full price tuition.

NAEYC created its accreditation program in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality early education programs. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period. To receive accreditation, CCYC went through a process of self-study, a professional review by the NAEYC panel, and an intensive onsite observation of the program in action.