Quality Rating 3: Accreditation
Instructions
To meet the requirements for Accreditation and Rating Scales: Accreditation: ACR 1.3, you will:
- Visit or interview with an accredited program
- Complete and upload the Accreditation Interview Verification Form to document your interview or visit
Reminder: If your program is accredited, no further action or documentation is needed for ACR 1.3.
Accreditation Visit or Interview
Accreditation is a process of reflection and evaluation. It helps programs show the quality of their work and their commitment to ongoing improvement. Programs that pursue accreditation review their practices, identify areas for improvement, and prepare for an evaluation. Visiting or talking with an accredited program can provide valuable insight into the process and the benefits of accreditation.
What does the documentation look like?
You completed an accreditation visit or interview and uploaded the Accreditation Interview Verification Form.
Where can you learn more?
- Maryland Accreditation Maryland Accreditation is a voluntary process. A program chooses to pursue self-appraisal, program improvement, and external program review to achieve and publicly confirm that they meet high quality state standards.
- Accreditation Interview Verification Form After conducting your interview with an accredited provider, the Accreditation Interview Verification form must be completed and submitted into the Maryland EXCELS system.
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) sponsors a nationally recognized accreditation system for Family Child Care programs. MSDE offers funding to help family child care programs pay the cost of pursuing accreditation.
