Loyola Marymount University’s acclaimed Children’s Center (LMUCC) earned its fourth accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the largest organization working on behalf of children from birth to age 8.
The center earned the “Accreditation +” level, the highest distinction awarded by NAEYC. Accreditation signals to families, educators, and policymakers that a program is committed to excellence, research-based practices, and ongoing professional development in early childhood education (ECE). LMUCC has been accredited continuously since 2010.
To earn and retain accreditation, LMUCC demonstrated its support of effective, inclusive, and research-based approaches; its strength in building partnerships among programs, families, and communities; and its commitment to leadership, professional development, and ongoing reflection. “This latest accreditation recognizes the many ways LMUCC has advanced the field of early childhood education,” says Estela Zarate, dean of the LMU School of Education.
A renowned resource at LMU and in the surrounding Westchester, Playa Vista, and Playa Del Rey communities, LMUCC serves pre-K children from 6 weeks to 5-6 years old. Under the direction of professor Ani Shabazian, the center nurtures learning, curiosity, creativity, and confidence, with an emphasis on experiential learning, demonstrating kindness, promoting justice, and honoring diversity. Its four tenets—sense of security, sense of community, socialization and guidance, and learning through play—align with LMU’s philosophy of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. “Our aim is to help the ECE community bridge theory with practice through observations, hands-on learning, professional collaborations, research, and community outreach,” says Shabazian.
LMUCC is the only NAEYC-accredited ECE center in the Westchester-Playa community. Nationwide, fewer than 6,000 ECE programs are currently accredited out of nearly 100,000 in existence, highlighting the significance of this achievement.
