The National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs announced on May 22, 2013, that River Ridge Elementary In-School Preschool and Walton-Verona Elementary In-School Preschool have been awarded Accreditation. These centers are two of the eight accredited centers Children, Inc. operates in Northern Kentucky. Only nine other such accredited centers operate in the 15-county Greater Cincinnati area.
As an Accredited center, these Children, Inc. preschools have been recognized as early care and education programs exemplifying excellence in the care of young children. By achieving accreditation, these preschools provide high quality programs for children, professional development for staff, and an environment for children that is conducive to their individual growth and development that exceeds state licensing requirements. This accreditation is the second consecutive accreditation – the most possible – for both Walton-Verona Elementary In-School Preschool and River Ridge In-School Preschool, which serve approximately 60 children in total each year.
The accreditation process included a self-study process in which administrators, staff, and parents evaluated the programs in accordance with Accreditation Standards. After the self-study process was complete, an onsite observation was conducted at each center by an early childhood professional. Based on the information collected, the two preschool centers were awarded accreditation through the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education.
“Everyone involved in this process – teachers, parents, staff members, and administrators – has achieved something great, which demonstrates our core value of providing quality education to every child,” says Children, Inc. Executive Director Rick Hulefeld.
About Children, Inc.
Children, Inc. provides a wide range of high quality, readily accessible childcare, preschool and school-aged education programs with an emphasis on school readiness and family success. Founded in 1977 in Northern Kentucky as an early childhood learning center, Children, Inc. has grown to become the largest private, non-profit childcare provider in Kentucky.
Visions Early Learning Center of Children, Inc. in the West End of Cincinnati is the organization’s newest program, and supports young mothers in achieving postsecondary education while preparing their children for success in kindergarten. Children, Inc. is a United Way Agency Partner and others. For more information, visit www.childreninc.org.
The sophisticated network of education centers extends its services by building in resources: home-based visitation for young mothers, service learning programs that respond to community issues through community service, training programs for parents and early childhood professionals, advocacy, and research-based music production. Children, Inc. is a nationally recognized innovator in early childhood services and continually collaborates to increase opportunities and resources for families.

