Discusses the historical context for the evolution of the Child Development Associate (CDA). Describes the CDA's contributions to the early childhood profession, and discusses its impact on programs and individuals. Speculates about the future of CDA credentialing, including the need for professionalism and new specializations. Notes that the CDA…

Presents lessons learned from 12 years of administering a national accreditation system. Lessons for early childhood education practice include setting standards for quality, interpreting standards for practice, and administering good-quality programs. Professional development lessons relate to professional preparation and ethical responsibility.…

Summarizes major points of NAEYC's revised position, describing how the revision builds on and expands the previous document through the growing knowledge base and the input of practitioners who used the original publication. Discusses the historical context within which the position statement was written, and summarizes the revisions. Discusses…

Describes development of NAEYC accreditation and offers a description of the process. Highlights the effects of accreditation and discusses its future. Notes that accreditation provides opportunities and motivation for valuable professional development, and that quality control is the greatest challenge faced by accreditation efforts. Notes…

Reviews the book, "Educating Young Children: Active Learning Practices for Preschool and Child Care Programs," by Mary Hohmann and David P. Weikart. Comments on how this resource and other High/Scope Educational Research Foundation initiatives have contributed to the broader field of early childhood education. (MOK)

Analyzes the basis on which early childhood programs are accredited and deferred and what criteria are frequently not met by accredited and deferred programs. National Academy of Early Childhood Programs decisions for accredited programs and for deferred programs are presented. The programs are then compared. (BB)

Describes ways in which well-intentioned efforts to protect young children from inappropriate school practices have had the opposite effect. Readiness testing, retention, transition classes, tracking, and increased entrance age are discussed. Alternative strategies are proposed. (BB)

Explores some of the issues inherent in a systems approach to professional development in early childhood education. Discusses the common core of knowledge that is shared by early childhood education professionals. (BB)

Explores possible explanations for the lack of agreement about professionalism in the field of early childhood education. Examines the pros and cons of professionalizing the field. Offers a new paradigm designed to avoid the pitfalls of traditional concepts of professionalism. (BB)

Discusses key features of a conceptual framework for early childhood professional development that is designed to achieve the advantages of professionalization, minimize the potential negative effects of professionalization, and result in higher quality early childhood programs for all young children and their families. (MDM)

Examines the need to redefine school readiness and to implement strategies that will ensure that children are "ready to succeed" when they enter school. (PCB)

This response to the articles by Brewer and Uphoff on transitional programs in this issue addresses two questions: (1) Do transition classes protect children? (2) Do transition classes assist in school improvement? (BG)

Inspired by the early childhood schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, offers six challenges to American educators to reclaim the image of the competent child, promote conceptual integrity of programs for children, refine the definition of developmental appropriateness, balance standard-setting with questioning, reflect on professional development, and…

Describes three typical routes by which people become early childhood professionals: the traditional, parental, and serendipitous routes. Discusses the conceptual model of the career lattice, which the National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development plans to promote. (LB)

Describes the purpose and history of guidelines posed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children for teacher education in baccalaureate and advanced degree programs. Summarizes the result of the review processes, describing how the new curriculum guidelines differ from the earlier versions and how the guidelines can be used to…