APPLE (Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment) is a national early learning program accreditation. With over 900 accredited programs and many more engaged in the process, APPLE is one of the largest accrediting programs for early learning centers. In Florida, APPLE is accepted as one of Florida’s Gold Seal Quality programs. The Gold Seal program provides additional benefits including: ad valorem tax relief, a sales tax exemption on supplies and materials, and an increase in reimbursement for subsidized care. The best benefit is giving your parents the confidence that the care of their children is at an APPLE accredited center.
APPLE is designed to work well for all types of facilities, small centers, privately owned, faith-based, or corporate programs. Studies show the positive effects of high-quality early learning centers on the physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional outcomes of young children. The APPLE program will raise your center to a level of quality that will enable you to better serve the children and their families.
APPLE was developed by owners and operators of early learning centers, and is grounded in the unique perspective of the business of childcare. The owner/management team has the greatest impact on the quality of any early learning center, and the developers of the APPLE program recognized the importance of balancing the standards to improve quality and the financial impact it may have on the children and families served.