Recognition

Continuous self-assessment of the quality of our staff and programs is an integral PCC goal. To that end, we are proud to seek and receive recognition from two standard-bearing organizations in the early childhood field.

1. Accreditation from the National Association for the Education for Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC is designed to bring together educators, programs, families, and communities to improve early childhood experiences. The philosophy of both NAEYC and the PCC is grounded by extensive research in what is considered developmentally appropriate for high-quality early childhood care. The Penn Children’s Center is among an elite group of programs that have been NAEYC-accredited since July 1994.
    
2. In 2024, Keystone STARS awarded the Penn Children's Center its top rating—four stars—for our commitment and ability to maintain compliance with the program’s stringent criteria for an enhanced-quality early learning environment.

Additionally, the PCC is a member of the National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers (N4C), a nonprofit educational membership organization that supports excellence in programs for young children in communities of higher learning.  As a member of N4C, the PCC collaborates on current practices in the early learning field, contributing ideas to build enterprise-wide connections, providing field experience to students, and supporting research.

In March 2025, when the N4C held its National Convention in Philadelphia, the PCC was proud to host a tour of the Center, discussing how we foster an environment centered around play-based learning and exploration.