AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Texas Elementary School has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—a nationally recognized organization of early childhood professionals.
The NAEYC accreditation is for the school’s early childhood program, which is composed of one pre-kindergarten class and two kindergarten classes. The NAEYC accreditation program was created in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education and to help families identify high-quality childcare and early education programs.
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Students at the University of Texas Elementary School.
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Photo: Marsha Miller
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“We’re proud to be accredited by NAEYC and recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” said Ramona Trevino, principal and chief executive officer. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences.”
Trevino said the early childhood program at UT Elementary School is composed of one pre-kindergarten class and two kindergarten classes. She said the program “is committed to our mission of providing a nurturing environment to students, establishing close communication with families and providing a rich curriculum.”
UT Elementary, a charter school at 2200 E. 6th Street that operates as an open-enrollment school campus, opened in 2003 with 120 students and now has 216 students in grades pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. The school provides services to children from an urban area, including many who come from economically disadvantaged families. Enrollment is limited by class size each year and is available to children living in zip codes 78702, 78721, 78722, 78723 and 78741.
Dr. Mark Ginsberg, executive director of NAEYC, said that by earning accreditation, UT Elementary School has “become a leader in a national effort to raise the quality of early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start.”
To earn NAEYC’s accreditation, a program conducts a self-study to determine how well it meets the standards. After necessary improvements are made, the program is observed by independent, professional validators, and then reviewed by a national panel. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.
For more information contact: Ramona Trevino, UT Elementary School, 512-495-9748, or Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.
