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America's most accredited

Children Attending KinderCare Learning Centers Outperform Peers

November 3, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – November 3, 2016 – According to new data, kindergarten students who experienced high-quality early childhood education at KinderCare Education were on average four months ahead of their peers nationally. The study was conducted using the Terra Nova, a widely-used standardized assessment tool.

The findings are consistent with other assessments, including previous results from the Maryland Model for School Readiness, which measure the impact that KinderCare learning programs have on children. Additional research shows that:

  • Students enrolled in KinderCare centers for more than one year yielded even higher scores, and
  • Average scores of KinderCare students consistently increased over the past three years.

“The research is clear – high-quality early education improves outcomes for children,” said Dr. Elanna Yalow, Chief Academic Officer for KinderCare Education. “The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of our curriculum and the commitment of our outstanding teachers to providing great learning experiences.”

The quality of early learning at KinderCare Education is further validated by independent, third-party accreditation. Accreditation is the gold standard in designating high-quality early learning programs, and sets a higher bar than state and local licensing requirements.

KinderCare Education has now reached nearly 100 percent accreditation for its over 1,400 learning centers across the country, making it the largest provider of accredited early learning in the U.S.

Accreditation is an intensive process and involves staff evaluations, family feedback, classroom observations and health and safety checks. Fewer than 10 percent of early education programs in America are accredited. The largest and best regarded of these accrediting organizations, the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), evaluates each center based on excellence in key areas including curriculum, relationships among teachers, their students, and their families, and center leadership.

“Together, these milestones indicate a strong connection between the efficacy of early learning programs in KinderCare centers, the high standards of accreditation, and the impact both have on children,” said Dr. Yalow.

Assessment Methodology
The Terra Nova, a standardized year-end assessment, was administered to 1,673 kindergarten students from 214 KinderCare Education centers throughout the U.S. The evaluated students were five years old at the time of the research. The assessments were conducted in March 2016.

About KinderCare Education® 
At KinderCare Education, we believe that education creates brighter futures. We are passionate about creating a world of learning, joy, and adventure for more than 160,000 children every day. Our devoted family of teachers leads the nation in accreditation and includes KinderCare® Learning Centers, KinderCare Education at Work™, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Cambridge Schools™, Knowledge Beginnings® and The Grove School®. To learn more, visit www.kc-education.com.