APSU’s Little Govs Child Learning Center earns national accreditation

By: Ethan Steinquest April 5, 2024

Children immerse themselves in the Little Govs Child Learning Center’s outdoor play space, which was designed to encourage exploration and learning. | Photo by Madison Casey

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Little Govs Child Learning Center (CLC) at Austin Peay State University has been awarded full accreditation by the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA), signifying the University’s commitment to high-quality child care.

NECPA accreditation recognizes early childhood programs that provide exceptional child care and education services. Little Govs CLC underwent a comprehensive review process to earn the distinction, which took approximately 18 months and involved meeting approximately 219 best practice standards.

“We were just ecstatic that we finally did it, and everybody on staff was so excited,” said Claudia Rodriguez, the director of Little Govs CLC. “I think it created this atmosphere of pride and joy to know that we’ve been doing the right thing for our children and that it’s being acknowledged.”

Little Govs CLC offers a Reggio-inspired, play-based curriculum for children ages 2-5 delivered by highly qualified teachers. The center’s mission is to ensure every child has a safe place to explore, grow and learn about the world around them.

“Play-based learning is a holistic approach to children’s learning and development,” Rodriguez said. “Through play, children learn valuable skills that support their physical, intellectual, social and emotional development. Play fosters creativity and imagination, develops social and emotional maturity, builds confidence and naturally develops academic success … [and] these early years are important because they set the foundation of success for young children.”

Last year, Little Govs CLC was recognized for its approach to integrating play with academic learning in a national study identifying it as the region’s top campus children’s center. The center’s commitment to these values laid a strong foundation for pursuing NECPA accreditation.

“We started with a self-assessment to see where we were, and family members and staff were able to participate,” Rodriguez said. “From there, we built an improvement plan, and a lot of that was revising parent and employee handbooks. It was a long process, but it was all worth it because, in the end, we’ve really improved.”

With the accreditation process complete, Rodriguez is confident that Little Govs CLC will maintain its high standards and continue providing exceptional care and education for children.

“The next step is to keep up with the annual [NECPA] renewals by ensuring our staff continues going above and beyond with their education and professional development,” she said. “We also want to maintain great teacher-child ratios, which is critical … ultimately, the goal is to create an environment for children where they can thrive and create wonderful memories they will never forget.”

For more information about Little Govs CLC or to apply for the program, visit https://www.apsu.edu/clc/.