APPLE Accreditation

About APPLE

APPLE (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment) is a national early learning program accreditation. With over 700 accredited programs and many more engaged in the process, APPLE is ‘Solid to the Core’! In Florida, APPLE is accepted into the Gold Seal of Quality program. The Gold Seal program has benefits that accredited programs may be able to take advantage of like ad valorem tax relief, no sales tax on supplies and materials and increased reimbursement for subsidized care.

How is APPLE Unique

APPLE was developed by owners and operators of early learning programs and is grounded in the unique perspective of the business of child care. It is the owner and management team o a program that is set program standards in their hiring practices, for staff education and credentials requirements and for the assignments of teachers to a classroom or group of children within ratios and group sizes. It is the same team that selects and provides training for the curriculum, and equips the classroom and the playground. The owner and manager team has the single greatest effect on the quality of the program. They must balance their finances as they make decisions that impact the quality of their program.

APPLE Advisory Committee

The APPLE Advisory Committee is comprised of early childhood educators who oversee the operation of the national accreditation program. The Advisory Committee is independent of the APPLE Commission.

APPLE Commission

The APPLE Commission is comprised of early childhood educators. The Commission makes the accreditation decisions. The Apple Commission is independent of the APPLE governing board committee.

Getting Started

To begin the Apple accreditation process submit the APPLE application and receive the self study manual. The self study is a time for reflection and improvement that requires the development of a portfolio of documentation. The portfolio is submitted to the APPLE program office indicating readiness for verification. The portfolio is reviewed in the APPLE office and if found to be in compliance with the accreditation standards. They APPLE Commission is final authority to rend the accreditation decision after a thorough review of all documentation.

Advanced APPLE

Advanced APPLE is an accelerated accreditation for those programs that have high quality standards in place to successfully move through the APPLE accreditation process. The decision to select the Advanced APPLE track is made after a program has reviewed the APPLE manual and all accreditation requirements. The self study portfolio must be completed as stated in the APPLE self study manual, however it is NOT mailed to the APPLE program office, but is kept on site at the program for the verifier’s review. The program indicates readiness for the verification visit by submitting the Attestation of Readiness to the APPLE program office. The verification visit will be conducted within 45 business days of the receipt of the Attestation of Readiness.
Please Note: Advanced APPLE is NOT a guarantee that a program will be granted accreditation. APPLE accreditation is awarded based on the review of the program’s portfolio and verification visit by the APPLE Commission

APPLE has moved to larger offices please make note of the new address:

APPLE

10060 Amberwood Road, Suite 3
Fort Myers, Florida 33913

Tel: 1-877-634-9874

Click here to email Ellen Blake ,
Program Administrator
A call to the APPLE office will be cheerfully returned promptly Monday through Friday 8-4. The following frequently asked questions may help you to discover that APPLE is the accreditation for your program.