Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (A.P.P.L.E.) is a voluntary accreditation program available to members of F.A.C.C.M. (Florida Association of Child Care Management). The accreditation process is an evaluation of the indicators of quality as reflected in each individual program.

All components of a program are examined including: administration, classroom environment, parent and community involvement, advocacy on behalf of children and child care, staffing credentials, staff-to-child ratios, teacher/child interaction, literacy and curriculum.

Young children must have early literacy experiences and be exposed to books starting as infants. A.P.P.L.E. requires each program to have 15 books per child with some specifications. The books must be appropriate to the children’s ages and in good repair. Children must be read to daily and have time to look at books during their free time.