Early Childhood Education PhD Student Receives National Recognition for his Service as a Peer Reviewer for NAEYC
BATON ROUGE, LA — Derrick Toups, early childhood education PhD student and graduate fellow for LSU Early Childhood Education Institute, was recently recognized for his service, scholarly work and national leadership
as a Peer Reviewer, Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs by
the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Toups’ service as a Peer Reviewer involves evaluating early childhood higher
education degree programs, from associate’s to master’s degree levels, through accreditation
report reviews and site visits across the country.
“Mr. Toups’ review of early childhood degree programs has involved a considerable time commitment and collaboration with colleagues at other institutions toward a thoughtful scholarly evaluation of programs relative to the standards put forth by NAEYC and the early childhood field," Mary Harrill, NAEYC Senior Director, said. "As you may know, the observations peer reviewers make regarding a program's evidence of meeting standards are extremely important and often high stakes. We are grateful that Mr. Toups accepted the responsibility associated with being a peer reviewer, and we appreciate his expertise in guiding this important work. We are grateful to Louisiana State University for sharing Mr. Toups' time and expertise with NAEYC and the field of early childhood.”
Toups and other peer reviewers across the country have contributed to the accreditation of degree programs at approximately 180 institutions. Toups is both a community member and graduate fellow of the LSU Early Childhood Education Institute.
About NAEYC
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. The association comprises nearly 60,000 individual members of the early childhood community and 52 Affiliates, all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning. Together, we work to achieve a collective vision: that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential. '
About the NAEYC Accreditation of Higher Education Programs
The NAEYC Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs awards accreditation to early childhood degree programs that demonstrate evidence of excellence by meeting the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Standards. The NAEYC accreditation process provides a framework for self-study, external evaluation, and improvement in the quality of teacher preparation programs. The system is committed to continuous improvement and is guided by the Code of Good Practice set forth by the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA), of which NAEYC is a member. There are currently 172 programs in 35 states with NAEYC-accredited higher education programs.
About the Early Childhood Education Institute
The Early Childhood Education Institute (ECEI) at LSU is an umbrella organization to promote research and disseminate recommended practices in early childhood care and education. ECEI is focused holistically on the early years and fills a unique niche by targeting birth through age three. The institute develops expert care practitioners who deliver high-quality early childhood programming, engage in research practices, and advocate for the profession. ECEI focuses on research, education, and outreach and is housed within LSU's College of Human Sciences & Education. Visit the Early Childhood Education Institute at lsu.edu/ecei.
About the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Library & Information Science and the School of Social Work, as well as the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool and the University Laboratory School. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan. For news and more information visit lsu.edu/chse.
Contact:
Kylie Cogburn
Program Coordinator - Early Childhood Education Institute
kcogburn@lsu.edu