18:3 2.5-3 years
20:2 3-5 years
(multi-age classroom)

24:3 2 years old
26:2 3 years old
30:2 4 years old
40:2 5 years old

Lower student: teacher ratios directly correlate to a higher quality Early Childhood Education Program

Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education

Teachers with Early childhood degrees provide attentive, caring and appropriate guidance for young children

Assistant Teacher
minimal requirements

16 years old
proof that currently enrolled in High School

Teachers working toward Early childhood degree capitalize on education and work

application approach

Accredited Preschools
Licensed Childcare

Nationally 8%*
Arizona 219*
Phoenix Metro 93*
East Valley 27*
Gilbert 2

(Spondeo will be Gilbert’s #3)
*includes Government funded programs

(Head Start)

1,632 state licensed childcare facilities

A high percentage of NAEYC Accredited Preschools are government funded (Head Start and Early Head Start)—due primarily to business cost to operate a preschool that requires higher educated teachers AND less students. Very few private schools have this prestigious accreditation.

Due to AZ state regulations, only the minimal standards for a childcare license are required for all preschools/childcare facilities in the state.
These standards fall significantly short of providing research based minimal education requirements for teachers. Minimally educated teachers translate to fewer resources and to significantly less optimal learning environments for students.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a research based association, provides higher learning standards by requiring:

• lower student to teacher ratios
• teacher education
• director education
• curriculum standards

Obtaining a NAEYC Accreditation is considered the “gold standard” as written in Parent’s Magazine February 2007 issue. Nationally only 8% of all preschools are accredited. Most of these preschools are government funded (Head Start, Early Head Start). This fact is due primarily to business cost to operate a preschool that requires higher educated teachers AND less students. Very few private schools have this prestigious accreditation. Those preschools that do have the NAEYC accreditation have made calculated revenue adjustments to provide the optimal teaching environment for their students--revealing the preschool’s philosophy and dedication to the education of young children.

“Accreditation Matters"
Making Good Programs Even Better
NAEYC Accreditation is a mark of quality. It helps create better programs for young children and tells families, "We’re doing it right."
The NAEYC Accreditation self-study process is about making your classroom or program an even better place for children’s development and learning.  It’s the opportunity to acknowledge what your program is doing well, and identify areas where your program could be even better.
By engaging in self-study and pursuing NAEYC Accreditation, programs discover that they create a stronger and more committed team of teachers, administrators, and families who work together to continually improve program quality. Teachers and administrators find their work more rewarding. Families appreciate and seek out NAEYC-accredited programs for their children.
Research shows quality matters.

Lear more at: Accreditation Matters

Spondeo Preschool’s Position:
Spondeo Preschool has made the commitment to the students and their families to achieve the highest research based standards. Upon making these decisions, Spondeo Preschool’s dedication will continue to meet or to exceed higher standards set forth by the NAEYC and Spondeo Preschool will proudly display the NAEYC Accreditation. (NAEYC requires 1 year operation before accreditation process can begin, Spondeo Preschool has been designed to operate with NAEYC standards in place to fulfill accreditation process in the second preschool year.)

Detailed Research Based information below:

Preschool Accreditation
Not all preschools have to be accredited. By law, a preschool, falling under the broad definition of childcare, is only required to follow the state guidelines for licensure. These regulations are most often not the best or, developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), according to the most recent research. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation is the “gold standard of approval….The NAEYC carefully evaluates schools and childcare centers based on curriculum, teacher qualifications, class size, and health and safety standards, only about 8% of US preschools are currently accredited” (Kanter, 2007, p. 68).
The NAEYC bases their regulations for accreditation on the most current research. Students to teacher ratios, as well as the education of teachers take front stage. “Low child-teacher ratios are very important, since they allow teachers to give ample attention to everyone” (Kanter, 2007, p.68), states Dr McCartney. Teachers and their educational background also make a difference, for “research shows that teachers with college degrees and specialized early-childhood training have more positive interactions with children, provide richer language experiences, and are less detached,” (Kanter, 2007, p.68), says Dr. Barnett. So ideally, head teachers should have a minimum of an associates degree and formal training in early-childhood education (Kanter, 2007, p. 68). Fortunately, a NAEYC accreditation makes sure that the accredited preschool complies with all of the proceeding researched based facts and continues to update policies as new research surfaces and implements the resulting policies.