ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Licensed daycares and preschools across the state now have new guidelines put into place for the care of young children. 

These new guidelines developed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources are a result of collaboration between DHR and various other child advocate offices and their representatives across the state. 

These standards are a part of the national education reform effort where every state is required to develop statewide guidelines to promote early learning.

Alabama’s Early Learning Guidelines are written to promote continuity of high quality care and learning for children from birth through five years of age.  

To receive Alabama’s Credential of Certification in these new standards, 18 hours of specialized training in each of the nine categories of child development in these guidelines are required.

On Dec. 11, Melissa Callaway Moody became the first, and currently is the only, preschool director in Baldwin County to be awarded certification in this new State of Alabama Early Learning Guidelines. 

Moody has been the owner and director of Discovery Island Child Development Center in Orange Beach since its opening more than 10 years ago.