APPLE Advantage

Join FACCM

Founded in 1988 by child care business owners who needed a greater advocacy voice, shared resources, and a pathway to higher quality, FACCM has evolved into the leader of the child care industry. Today, FACCM represents every segment of the child care industry whose members operate over 1,000 centers, employ over 12,000 staff, and care for over 135,000 children from birth through school-age.

FACCM advocacy is rooted in:

• Responsible regulation and legislation.
• Appropriate funding for early learning programs with higher reimbursement rates.
• Providing positive learning experiences through accreditation.
• Professional development, shared resources, and partnering with all in the early learning industry.

APPLE is nationally recognized and accepted by the Department of Defense for Military Families utilizing DoD funding. APPLE partners with Middle States Association (MSA) to provide a crosswalk for programs who provide K-12 education in addition to early care.

APPLE Accreditation offers both an Expedited and Standard Timeline application process.

• Standard
  • Programs pursuing a standard APPLE Accreditation can expect a full portfolio review within 120 days of upload and onsite verification visit within 90 days of successful portfolio review; see Standard APPLE Accreditation Overview for additional information
• Expedited Timeframe
  • Programs pursuing an Expedited APPLE Accreditation can expect a full portfolio review and onsite verification within 90 business days of portfolio upload; see Expedited APPLE Accreditation Overview for additional information

Access your FACCM Member Hub to apply today!

APPLE Accreditation Portfolio/Self-Study Evidence:
The self-study APPLE Accreditation Portfolio process is the building and submission of specific documentation, such as program policies and procedures, that show the APPLE Accreditation Standards are utilized in the program. The portfolio indicators are clearly marked and defined in the APPLE Standards Evidence Guide after each standard within the APPLE Accreditation Manual. The evidence to meet each indicator will be compiled and uploaded electronically. There is a fee associated with the portfolio submission that is required before team review and advancement to verification. Please refer to the APPLE Accreditation Manual for more information.

APPLE Accreditation Onsite Verification Visit:
The APPLE Accreditation Verification Visit is an onsite observation by a certified APPLE Accreditation Verifier to authenticate that the APPLE Accreditation Standards are implemented in the program. The verification visit indicators are clearly marked and defined in the APPLE Standards Evidence Guide after each standard within the APPLE Accreditation Manual. The verification visit occurs once the self-study APPLE Accreditation Portfolio has been successfully submitted and reviewed by the APPLE team. Notification will be sent to the program indicating that it has been moved to the verification stage. Please refer to the APPLE Accreditation Manual for additional information.

All APPLE Accredited programs who wish to remain accredited must meet the following for reaccreditation:

• Maintain current annual FACCM Membership
• Remit APPLE Annual Report and associated fees annually except in the reaccreditation year
• Remit APPLE Reaccreditation Application at least 1 year prior to accreditation expiration
• Submit portfolio/self-study evidence at least 9 months prior to accreditation expiration
• Onsite Reaccreditation Verification Visit 6 months prior to expiration
  • Inability to adhere to suggested timelines may result in lapse of accreditation and associated benefits.

Standard APPLE Reaccreditation Overview

Expedited APPLE Reaccreditation Overview