Chicago, IL ( April 11, 2008 )— The Archdiocese of Chicago's Office of Catholic Schools will join with school districts across the country in supporting and celebrating the National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child, which begins this Sunday, April 13, and ends Saturday, April 19.

“Early Childhood Catholic School programs are special because they are integrated into the Catholic elementary school community and considered a vital part of the learning continuum,” said Julie Ramski, Early Childhood Program Director for the Office of Catholic Schools. “Our schools provide safe and secure early childhood education in a loving, faith-based environment.”

Early Childhood Catholic School programs vary from school to school. These offerings may include three-year-old preschool, full-day and half-day programs, two, three or five day per week schedules, and before and after school care.

More than 14,000 young children are enrolled in preschool and kindergarten classes in Archdiocesan Catholic schools in Cook and Lake counties. These students experience a quality Catholic school education that is ensured through a rigorous evaluation process that is dually recognized by the Office of Catholic Schools and the Illinois State Board of Education. The process also meets the NAEYC requirement that only state certified teachers with bachelor’s degrees be hired.

Registration for the 2008-09 school year in the Archdiocese's 217 elementary schools across Cook and Lake Counties is now taking place. One hundred percent of these schools have kindergarten programs and 93 percent have preschools.

For more information about an Early Childhood Catholic School program near you, go to the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Schools, please visit www.archchicago.org and click on Catholic Schools.