Accreditation

Accreditation is a process that guides child care providers through quality enhancement standards that go above and beyond licensing requirements. To achieve accreditation, the program must offer the kind of care, attention, and educational activities parents look for in quality child care programs. It must offer activities and experiences that will aid in a child's growth and development, and that will help them prepare for school.

MSDE recognizes several different accrediting agencies as aligning with the overall mission and high standard for child care programs and providers in the state of Maryland.

Accreditation may be awarded through one of the following agencies:

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)
• Council of Accreditation - After-School Accreditation (COA/ASA)
• National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
• Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) (Maryland Program Accreditation)

*OCC may consider other organizations for accreditation support and reserves the right to approve or deny the request based on the set criteria.

Click Here to find information on the Accreditation Support Fund.