Essex County College Child Center Gets Five-Year Accreditation

The Child Development Center (CDC) at Essex County College (ECC) has received a five-year reaccreditation through July 1, 2018 from a national accrediting agency.

“The full accreditation gives parents the assurance that their children are receiving both quality care and education,” CDC Director Deloris Grimsley said of the reaccreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The Washington-based agency conducted a site visit of the center in April and recently issued its final report to the College.

The CDC is located on the main Newark campus of the college. The center provides both day and evening care for the pre-school children of students and staff. The children range in age from three months to four years. During the fall and spring semesters, there are about 100 children enrolled in the CDC, about half that many during the summer terms.

The accreditation standards include that the program provides focused curriculum, assessment of educational progress, a healthy environment, a working relationship between the center and the families, as well as ensuring the staff have the necessary qualifications, knowledge and professional commitment.

“It’s most gratifying that our staff was clearly able to demonstrate the significant quality of care we provide here,” said Grimsley. She added she was particularly gratified that the facility scored 100 percent in such areas as relationships, teaching, health, community relationships, physical environment, and leadership and management.

Additional information about the CDC at Essex County College is available at 973-877-3357.