Lewis-Clark State College’s KinderCollege, an on-campus child care facility for use by LC State students, faculty, staff, and the community, received full accreditation from the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation, NECPA officials have announced.
The NECPA’s National Accreditation Council and Commission reviewed LC State’s application and self-study, and made a verification visit to the campus facility before awarding full accreditation. The designation means KinderCollege joins a select group of early childhood care and education programs nationally and internationally “which have shown exceptional commitment to professional and programmatic quality,” according to a NECPA press release. Full accreditation is the highest designation under NECPA.
Julie Crea, LC State’s vice president for finance and administration, credits the KinderCollege staff, including Alex Briggs, Stephanie Junger and Wendy Blakely, for their efforts with the accreditation. Crea said the group did an outstanding job in meeting the accreditation standards, including implementing new curriculum and assessment tools, and enhancing the child care environment.
KinderCollege is licensed by the city of Lewiston to provide care for children age 6 weeks to 6-years-old. KinderCollege works closely with the college’s early childhood development program to give LC students child care experience. Lessons during the day are a balance of child-directed and teacher-directed activities, individual and group activities, and quiet and active times. KinderCollege operates year-round at 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
The accreditation is good through Aug. 31, 2026. During that three-year period, LC State must submit annual reports about the program in both 2024 and 2025. It then is eligible to apply for re-accreditation in 2026.
For more information on KinderCollege at LC State, visit its webpage at www.lcsc.edu/kinder-college.
