HJ0123 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0123 LRB095 20730 KXB 49194 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are pleased to congratulate Nokomis Community Unit School District 22 on Nokomis Early Childhood/American Pride earning national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); and

WHEREAS, Nokomis Early Childhood/American Pride located in Nokomis is one of the first early childhood programs to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) under the Association's new system; NAEYC is the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals; and

WHEREAS, Nokomis Early Childhood/American Pride has been serving children and families in the community for nineteen years through a State funded grant, and NAEYC accredited since May 1997; the mission of Nokomis Early Childhood/American Pride is to provide a safe environment in which children of varied abilities and backgrounds can learn; through educational experiences children will grow to be self-disciplined, respectful, responsible, productive students, who use appropriate social skills; and

WHEREAS, To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, Nokomis Early Childhood went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria; the program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten NAEYC program standards; NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we congratulate the staff of Nokomis Early Childhood/American Pride on receiving National accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Jean Chrostoski, Superintendent of Nokomis Community Unit School District 22, and James Rupert, director of Nokomis Early Childhood/American Pride, as symbols of our respect and esteem.