Early childhood education programs are intended to bestow immediate and long-term benefits to young children. Research suggests that only programs that are of a high quality result in long-term benefits.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has developed the Standards for Implementing Quality Early Learning Programs for use by staff in Maryland public school prekindergarten and kindergarten programs as well center-based child care and Head Start. An effective way to reach standards of high quality is to conduct national or state program accreditation.