03-17-04

IOWA STATE'S CHILD DEVELOPMENT LAB SCHOOL EARNS REACCREDITATION

AMES, Iowa -- The Iowa State University Child Development Laboratory School has earned a five-year reaccreditation bythe National Association for the Education of Young Children, the largest organization of early childhood professionalsin the United States.

The Lab School is part of Iowa State's College of Family and Consumer Sciences. The school has been accredited by thenational association since 1993.

"We're proud to be reaccredited and recognized for our commitment to the highest professional standards," said CarolAlexander Phillips, administrator for the Lab School. "We work hard to build two-way communication with our parents andchildren; to provide hands-on, activity-oriented learning projects; and to encourage problem-solving and negotiatingskills for our students. The accreditation lets our families and community know that children in our program arereceiving the best care and early learning experiences."

"By earning accreditation, the Iowa State Child Development Laboratory School has become a leader in a national effortto raise the quality of early childhood education and to help give all children a better start," said Mark Ginsberg,executive director of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Susan Hegland, faculty coordinator for the Lab School and associate professor of human development and family studies,said the school provides Iowa State students with opportunities to work with master teachers while developing teachingand guidance skills. At the same time, Lab School staff work with faculty to implement best practices guided bycutting-edge research.

In preparation, the Lab School employees did a self-study in spring, 2002. Association evaluators visited the school inthe fall, 2003.

The first nursery school at Iowa State was organized by Lulu Lancaster and Lydia Swanson in 1924 to provide alaboratory for the new courses in child-care and training, described as the physical care and training of the infantand preschool child. The nursery school was one of the first preschool programs at a land grant college/university westof the Mississippi River. From the original 33 students, the program has doubled to 66 students today and has changedto meet society's changing needs.

Today's programs include all-day, year-round care and education for children ages two to five, and a full-daykindergarten program offered collaboratively with the Ames Community School District. Each classroom is adjacent to anobservation booth where visitors may view the activities and room arrangement without disturbing the students. Theratio of adults to children exceeds licensing standards and all employees have a minimum of a bachelor's degree andprevious early childhood experience.

For more information on the Lab School, contact Malisa Rader, parent coordinator, at (515) 294-3040 or visit the Website atwww.fcs.iastate.edu/cdlab.

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