The South Texas College (STC) Child Development Center at the Mid-Valley campus has earned national reaccreditation from the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs. This recognition is held by only about 1,300 childcare programs across the United States.
The STC Child Development Center is the only nationally accredited childcare program in the Rio Grande Valley, according to Center Manager Sylvia Serrano.
“We are very proud of this honor,” Serrano said. “Our staff shows strong commitment, knowledge, and skill in delivering high-quality learning. We use research-based standards and proven teaching methods.”
The center was first nationally accredited in February 2010. Since then, it has continued to meet high standards. It has also maintained its Texas Rising Star Four-Star rating — the highest quality rating given by the state. The center earned this rating in March 2017.
The Child Development Center serves children of STC students, faculty, and staff, as well as families in the local community. It offers care and education for children from 12 months to 5 years of age. During the summer, it also provides services for children up to 8 years old.
“Our goal is to train future early childhood professionals while supporting local families,” said Veronica Rodriguez, Chair of the Child Development Program. “This reaccreditation proves that we meet the highest national standards and keep growing as leaders in early education.”
Rodriguez said the center’s success comes from the hard work and passion of its staff.
“Our staff is the core of the program,” she said. “Every teacher has at least an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. This high standard has improved our program and helped increase enrollment. Many parents tell us they choose us because of our strong team and our focus on quality.”
In addition to providing child care, the center serves as a hands-on training site for STC students studying Child Development, Early Childhood, Psychology, and other fields. These students work directly with children under the guidance of trained professionals, gaining valuable experience they can use in their careers.
To earn reaccreditation, the center completed a long review process. This included a self-assessment, an on-site visit, and ongoing reports.
“It’s a thorough and challenging process,” Serrano explained. “Experts review our paperwork and observe our classrooms. It’s demanding, but it shows that what we do every day truly works.”
The National Accreditation Commission supports early learning centers in proving their quality. The program checks classroom practices and child outcomes to help centers improve. Accreditation also gives families confidence that their children are in a safe, high-quality environment.
“Getting reaccredited means more than just passing a test,” said Rodriguez. “It shows our promise to always improve. We aim for excellence, and we are proud to set the standard in early childhood education.”
