STC Child Development Center earns national reaccreditation and maintains top state rating

The South Texas College (STC) Child Development Center, located at the Mid-Valley campus, has been reaccredited by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs, an honor held by only 1,300 programs across the country.

Notably, the STC Child Development Center is the only nationally accredited child care program in the Rio Grande Valley, according to Sylvia Serrano, Child Development Center manager.

“We are incredibly proud of this recognition,” said Serrano. “Our staff consistently demonstrates the capacity, commitment and competence to support high-quality learning based on research-driven standards and evidence-based practices.”

First nationally accredited in February 2010, the center continues to uphold its reputation for excellence. In addition to national reaccreditation, the center has maintained its Texas Rising Star Four-Star rating, the highest quality designation awarded by the state of Texas, that it received in March 2017.

The center serves not only STC students, faculty and staff, but also families from the surrounding community. It provides care and education for children ages 12 months to 5 years, with services extended to school-aged children up to 8 years old during summer sessions.

“Our mission is to serve as a model training program for early childhood professionals while supporting families in our community,” said Veronica Rodriguez, Child Development Program Chair. “This reaccreditation validates that we’re meeting the highest national standards and continually evolving as leaders in early childhood education.”

Rodriguez emphasized that the center’s success is deeply rooted in the dedication, education and passion of its staff.

“The heart of our program is our staff. Every teacher holds at least an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. That standard has not only elevated the quality of our program, but has also driven enrollment. Parents consistently tell us they choose our center because of our highly-qualified team and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

In addition to offering high-quality early childhood education, the center also serves as a dynamic training center for STC students studying Child Development and Early Childhood or a variety of other disciplines such as psychology and other related fields, giving students valuable, hands-on learning experiences. they can apply in a classroom or real-world setting. By working directly with children under the guidance of experienced professionals, these students gain critical skills that prepare them for their careers.

The voluntary reaccreditation process STC follows includes a self-study, on-site validation visit and ongoing reporting.

“It’s a rigorous process that includes external documentation review and on-site observations,” Serrano said. “It can be intense, but it affirms that our daily practices are effective and truly making an impact.”

The National Accreditation Commission’s voluntary program helps early childhood centers demonstrate their dedication to quality through detailed evaluations of practices and outcomes. Accreditation provides families with the assurance that their children are in a nurturing, high-quality learning environment.

“Achieving reaccreditation is more than a milestone,” said Rodriguez. “It’s a powerful reaffirmation of our dedication to quality, professionalism and ongoing improvement. We aim for excellence and we’re proud to continue setting the standard.”