Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academy Earns National Accreditation

Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academy celebrated a significant milestone in May, having been awarded accreditation by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs. The commission accredits over 1,300 programs across 35 states and beyond, is a respected body in early childhood education. 

Our school has been working on this process since September of 2021, revisiting and refining different policies and procedures along the way, as well as taking all of the standards that we are already held to by Licensing, to a higher level,” said Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academy Director, Kierstin Wimberly. “I am so incredibly proud of our teachers for all their hard work and dedication to Early Childhood Education.”

This accreditation is a testament to Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academy’s dedication to maintaining exemplary standards in early childhood education. This process included an in-depth self-study, involving administrators, staff and parents who evaluated the program against the commission's rigorous standards. Following this, a validation visit and a comprehensive review of all program materials were conducted, leading to the decision to award accreditation.

“The collective effort of parents, staff, and administrators at Bardmoor YMCA Preschool Academy has been instrumental in obtaining this,” said Associate Vice President of Education Claire Haas. “Their dedication and hard work have created a supportive and enriching environment for the children, fostering a strong foundation for their future learning and development.”

The school’s achievement highlights YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg’s continuous efforts to provide a nurturing and conducive environment for children to learn, grow and thrive in the Greater St. Petersburg community. This accreditation comes on the heels of an early childhood education expansion that was announced earlier this year. 

YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg is taking a significant step forward in shaping the future of early childhood education in the community, ensuring children have access to high-quality care and education from the very beginning.

For more information about YMCA Preschool Academies, please visit www.stpeteymca.org/preschool.