Accreditations & Awards

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Accreditations & Awards *

High Standards, Recognized Excellence

At DCDC, our commitment to excellence in early childhood care and education is unwavering. DCDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)—the gold standard in early childhood education—and is the only program in Montour County to hold this distinction.

Both of our locations also hold a Star 4 rating from Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program, the highest quality rating available.

To uphold the highest standards, we have earned and maintained the following accreditations and recognitions:

Accreditations

Administered by the PA Department of Human Services, Keystone STARS is a voluntary program that awards a STAR 1 to STAR 4 childcare program. A STAR 4 program meets high quality standards for Teacher qualifications, classroom and learning activities, working with families and program management. Visit Keystone Stars website to learn about the benefits of enrolling in your child at a STAR 4 program. 

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the leading organization for early childhood education in the United States. DCDC is proud to be NAEYC Accredited at the Accreditation + level meeting the highest standards in areas such as curriculum and assessment, health and safety, staff qualifications, community and family partnership. This achievement reflects DCDC’s commitment to providing high quality, developmentally appropriate learning environments that support each child’s growth and development.  

Achieving Accreditation + means that DCDC voluntarily underwent a comprehensive self-study, invited external professional reviewers to verify compliance, and was found to meet NAEYC’s highest criteria. DCDC also follows the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, which is available at www.naeyc.org, with copies on file in the main office and provided to all staff upon hire.

For families, enrolling a child in a NAEYC-accredited + program ensures the highest standards of early learning and care.

Visit NAEYC website to learn about the benefits of enrolling your child in a NAEYC accredited + program.

Awards

  • PA Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion, Silver Award (2025)

  • Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year Nominee (2020)

  • Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year Award (2014)