South Whidbey Children’s Center is in good company with its recent re-accreditation.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) certified the South Whidbey pre-kindergarten and daycare organization, a distinction only 88 other childcare centers in Washington received.

“It took us a year to prepare the required documentation and we received an overall score of 99.7 percent, which is huge,” said Kris Barker, executive director of the center, in a news release.

NAEYC accredited programs have 10 rigorous standards they must meet. The Children’s Center had to: Promote positive relationships for all children and adults; implement a curriculum that fosters all areas of child development; use developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate and effective teaching approaches; provide ongoing assessments of a child’s learning and development and communicate the child’s progress to the family; promote the nutrition and health of children and protect children and staff from illness and injury; employ and support a teaching staff that has the educational qualifications, knowledge and commitment necessary to promote children’s learning and development; establish and maintain collaborative relationships with each child’s family; establish relationships with and use the resources of the community to support achievement of program goals; provide a safe and healthy physical environment; and implement strong personnel, fiscal and program management policies so that all children, families and staff have a quality experience.