KINGSPORT, Tenn. – George Washington Elementary School's Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) has earned a five-year accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children.

NAEYC Accreditation is a rigorous and transformative quality-improvement system that uses a set of ten (10) research-based standards to collaborate with early education programs to recognize and drive quality-improvement in high-quality early learning environments.

"I am so proud of the amazing teachers and staff at Washington ECLC," said Kansas Winningham, Washington ECLC Program Director and SACC Coordinator. "We are so blessed to be recognized as one of the top Early Childhood programs in the nation. We are proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards."

"This recognition exemplifies the dedication to quality care and family relationships that we strive to achieve in our Early Childhood Learning Center," said Heather Wolf, Washington Elementary School Principal. "Kingsport City Schools and our community are blessed to have a program that so deeply enriches the lives of our youngest students, birth through age five."

To earn NAEYC Accreditation, Washington ECLC went through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to verify and ensure that the program met each of the 10 program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. NAEYC-accredited programs are always prepared for unannounced quality-assurance visits during their accreditation term, which lasts for five years.

"This recognition is a testament to the professionalism of our Washington ECLC leadership and staff," states Suzanne Lewis, Kingsport City Schools Early Childhood Coordinator and Palmer Early Learning Center Principal. "Their dedication to the students enrolled in their program is evident by their successful site visit and national accreditation."

In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 6,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC—less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition.

“NAEYC-accredited programs have committed to a process that takes time, energy, and dedication to complete,” states Alissa Mwenelupembe, Senior Director Early Learning Program Accreditation. “ Washington ECLC has demonstrated their commitment to young children and their families.”

For more information about NAEYC Accreditation, visit the NAEYC website.

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program; with a total enrollment of over 7,900 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to Inspire. Cultivate. Impact.

For more information visit www.k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, or call the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (kcsdistrict), Instagram (kcs__district), Twitter (@kcs__district), LinkedIn (kcsdistrict), and check out our YouTube Channel (@kcs__district).  

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