Ka Pa’alana Program Achieves Prestigious NAEYC Accreditation+ Status  March 31, 2025

Partners in Development Foundation (PIDF) is proud to announce that their Ka Paʻalana program has earned the distinguished Accreditation+ status from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), marking a significant achievement in early childhood education excellence in Hawaii. 

A Milestone Achievement 

The Accreditation+ designation represents the highest level of quality recognition in early childhood education, awarded only to programs that demonstrate exceptional standards in teaching practices, curriculum, family engagement, and administrative policies. Ka Paʻalana’s Hope Preschool Site, which serves as a model for all their preschool sites, joins an elite group of early childhood education programs nationwide to receive this honor. 

“This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality educational experiences for children and families experiencing homelessness and other challenging circumstances,” said Kasey Popken, Project Director of Ka Paʻalana. “We are honored to be recognized by NAEYC for our dedication to excellence in early childhood education.” 

About NAEYC Accreditation+ 

The NAEYC Accreditation+ system sets professional standards for early learning programs and helps families identify high-quality programs for their children. The re-envisioned NAEYC accreditation process is based on the commitment to continuous quality improvement, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and feedback from the field. 

To earn NAEYC Accreditation+, Ka Paʻalana went through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by on-site visits by NAEYC assessors to verify program quality. The program was evaluated on ten program standards and dozens of corresponding individual criteria to determine its level of excellence. 

Impact on Families and Communities 

Ka Paʻalana’s focus on serving homeless, at-risk, and ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families makes this continued achievement particularly significant. The program provides comprehensive services including preschool education, parent education, and family support services through its innovative mobile preschool and Family-Child Interaction Learning (FCIL) model. 

“Achieving Accreditation+ status validates our approach to serving Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable keiki and their families,” said Terry Nakamura, Vice President of Operations of Partners in Development Foundation. “It demonstrates that high-quality early education can and should be accessible to all children, regardless of their living situation or economic circumstances.” 

Moving Forward 

With this recognition, Ka Paʻalana reaffirms its commitment to providing high-quality education and family support to communities in Leeward Oʻahu, West Hawaiʻi Island, and Maui. Project Director, Kasey Popken shared that, “All sites will continue to incorporate culturally responsive practices and innovative approaches to address the unique needs of homeless and at-risk families in Hawaiʻi.”

For more information about Ka Paʻalana, please visit pidf.org/kapaalana/