Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2005

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
713.204.9798 (cell)
mrcannon@uh.edu

HOUSTON, Aug. 9, 2005—The Human Development Laboratory School (HDL) at the University of Houston has received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the leading organization of early childhood professionals.

“We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,”
Jeannette Doina, HDL director said. “We want the best for the children who are in our care.”

The Human Development Laboratory School is a model demonstration pre-school that promotes a child’s reasoning, autonomous self-regulation and interpersonal understanding, including conflict resolution skills. Currently, there are 65 children enrolled in the program under the care of degreed teachers.

To earn NAEYC’s accreditation, HDL conducted a year-long review of its program, considering more than 300 criteria including child-teacher ratio, staff qualifications, safety and physical space. In March, an independent monitor along with a national panel of experts from NAEYC reviewed the program. NAEYC accredits programs for five years.

“I am proud of the unified efforts of the families, the teaching staff and the university personnel who have worked above and beyond the call of duty to achieve this goal,” Doina said.

The UH school was founded in 1963 and is based on the work of Jean Piaget, who is considered the father of early childhood education. His theories focus on the development of a child’s reasoning skills. In addition, the school serves as a research center for university faculty and a teacher training site for the College of Education and the community.

“In the Houston area, only a small percentage of childcare centers have earned the national accreditation, so this is quite a feat,” Doina said.

There is a lengthy waiting list for parents wishing to enroll their students in the UH program. In its 42-year history, more than 2,000 children have come through its doors. In addition, at least 5,000 students and researchers have included HDL in their university studies.

For more information about the UH Human Development Laboratory School, please contact Jeannette Doina, director of the HDL, at jdoina@uh.edu

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.