February 5, 2024 NAEYC 2024 Public Policy Forum In partnership with our friends at the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, NAEYC has crafted an agenda designed to engage, educate, support, empower, and inspire you, with opportunities for engaging chats, live Q&A, and extensive, exceptional content. Event Details Sunday, February 25 | 1 – 5 p.m. Finding My People: Educators Share Their Journeys as Advocates and Leaders How to Talk to Today’s Congress: A Conversation with National Policy Leaders and Current Hill Staffers Making Progress and Creating Momentum: Celebrating and Discussing ECE State Policy Wins PLUS! Concurrent sessions will include updates on the Unifying Framework and work from the Commission on Professional Excellence; a deep-dive on credit for prior learning; and strategies for advocates and educators navigating harmful deregulatory efforts. Monday, February 26 | 1 – 5 p.m. Conversations on the Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs, featuring educators and leaders, as well as: Katie Hamm, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Early Childhood Development, Department of Health and Human Services; Swati Adarkar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Education, Department of Education; and Glenna Wright-Gallo, Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education Make A Circle: Sneak Peak Clips of the Upcoming Film on the ECE Workforce, and Discussion with Filmmakers and Participants Plus! Concurrent sessions will include an overview of the Administration’s Executive Order on care; a deep-dive on what educators and advocates need to know about ACF’s proposed child care regulations; and an exploration of opportunities in the implementation of the CHIPS Act child care requirements. Registration closes Sunday, February 18, so do not wait, register today! More Details Access to a library of timely and relevant resources, talking points, opportunities to share your stories, and many additional recordings, presentations, and webinars designed to enhance your knowledge and strengthen your individual and collective advocacy comes with registration. Build on your expertise and connections to join your state teams for Congressional meetings—virtual, in-district, and on the Hill! For more information and updates, visit www.naeyc.org/policy-forum.
NAEYC 2024 Public Policy Forum In partnership with our friends at the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, NAEYC has crafted an agenda designed to engage, educate, support, empower, and inspire you, with opportunities for engaging chats, live Q&A, and extensive, exceptional content. Event Details Sunday, February 25 | 1 – 5 p.m. Finding My People: Educators Share Their Journeys as Advocates and Leaders How to Talk to Today’s Congress: A Conversation with National Policy Leaders and Current Hill Staffers Making Progress and Creating Momentum: Celebrating and Discussing ECE State Policy Wins PLUS! Concurrent sessions will include updates on the Unifying Framework and work from the Commission on Professional Excellence; a deep-dive on credit for prior learning; and strategies for advocates and educators navigating harmful deregulatory efforts. Monday, February 26 | 1 – 5 p.m. Conversations on the Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs, featuring educators and leaders, as well as: Katie Hamm, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Early Childhood Development, Department of Health and Human Services; Swati Adarkar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Education, Department of Education; and Glenna Wright-Gallo, Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education Make A Circle: Sneak Peak Clips of the Upcoming Film on the ECE Workforce, and Discussion with Filmmakers and Participants Plus! Concurrent sessions will include an overview of the Administration’s Executive Order on care; a deep-dive on what educators and advocates need to know about ACF’s proposed child care regulations; and an exploration of opportunities in the implementation of the CHIPS Act child care requirements. Registration closes Sunday, February 18, so do not wait, register today! More Details Access to a library of timely and relevant resources, talking points, opportunities to share your stories, and many additional recordings, presentations, and webinars designed to enhance your knowledge and strengthen your individual and collective advocacy comes with registration. Build on your expertise and connections to join your state teams for Congressional meetings—virtual, in-district, and on the Hill! For more information and updates, visit www.naeyc.org/policy-forum.
June 20, 2023 NAEYC Requesting Stories of Teacher Appreciation The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is asking parents and caregivers to share stories that celebrate the powerful relationships between families and their child care providers with them. NAEYC is collecting these stories to highlight early childhood teacher appreciation. Story Submission Details Stories should be submitted by parents or caregivers of young children and should discuss: an amazing experience they’ve had with their child’s early childhood educator a fond memory of an early childhood educator helping them navigate a difficult conversation with their child any moment that an early childhood educator helped them and their family through a challenging moment other related experiences Submit a Story Interested individuals must submit stories using the online Story Submission Form on the NAEYC website. Learn More Learn more on the NAEYC website or call 202-232-8777 with questions. Find a list of phone extensions on the NAEYC Contact Us page.
April 5, 2023 NAEYC Sponsoring Week of the Young Child Sweepstakes The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is sponsoring a Week of the Young Child (WOYC) Sweepstakes. Week of the Young Child is the first week of April, and NAEYC is offering prizes to seven lucky parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators who participate in the sweepstakes, which runs March 31 through April 14. WOYC Sweepstake Prizes Three people will win a free one-year Entry Level Membership ($30 value) Two people will win a free NAEYC Book Bundle ($70 estimated value) Two people will win a free module of Each and Every Child Training ($120 estimated value) Participate All parents, caregivers, and educators are invited to participate in the sweepstakes. To participate, simply visit the NAEYC website and complete the participation form. Learn More To learn more, visit the NAEYC website.
March 29, 2023 NAEYC Issues Call for Papers on Identity and Early Childhood Education The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) recently issued a Call for Papers for the fall 2023 issue of their online journal, “Voices of Practitioners.” Themed, “Reflecting on Our Own Identities in Early Childhood Education,” NAEYC seeks stories that explore how early childhood professionals’ reflections on their own identities (specifically social identities) impact their work with young children. Paper proposals are due by Friday, April 7. About Voices of Practitioners “Voices of Practitioners: Teacher Research in Early Childhood Education” is an online, peer-reviewed journal in which teachers provide a critical perspective on their roles in children’s development and learning. Published by NAEYC, it disseminates early childhood teachers’ systematic study of an aspect of their own classroom practice. Call for Papers Social Identities and Early Childhood Education The concept of identity is complex and shaped by individual characteristics; family dynamics; historical factors; and social, cultural, and political contexts. Social identity refers to the group categories that each society creates and defines. These categories include race, family structure, language, gender, religion, and economic class. Reflecting on how these identities intersect and influence practice can help early childhood educators understand and challenge how systems of oppression and privilege operate in early childhood settings. Considerations for Writing About Social Identity NAEYC is interested in receiving submissions that explore a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: how your social identities have informed your understanding of the children and families you work with how your social identities have influenced your teaching practices and classroom dynamics the role of self-reflection and professional development in understanding and addressing how your social identities impact your teaching Submission Guidelines Who can submit a paper proposal? teachers and administrators at any stage in their career working with young children aged birth to 8 years early childhood educators with various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives teacher educators, particularly those working with associate degree students What should paper proposals include? Proposals should be 500-750 words in length and should include the following features: an idea for a personal narrative essay that discusses identity and practice, relative to the broader issues of equity and social justice a statement of the challenge or opportunity for reform the paper intends to address a brief contextual overview of the submitter’s program (e.g., geography, the population of children and families served, etc.) a key anecdote or descriptive narrative that captures the heart of the submitter’s message bullet points of two to three lessons the submitter has learned from their experience and their reflections about it How do interested educators submit? Interested educators should email their completed proposal to editorial@naeyc.org. Please indicate in the subject line that it is a submission for “Voices of Practitioners” Fall 2023. Proposals are due by April 7. Learn More To learn more, read the full submission guidelines or visit the NAEYC “Voices of Practitioners” webpage.
March 8, 2023 Trying Together Offering MOYC Opportunities Trying Together is offering families, community members, and child care providers a number of opportunities to celebrate Month of the Young Child. MOYC-in-a-Box Trying Together is offering child care programs in Allegheny County the opportunity to receive Month of the Young Child (MOYC) materials. Programs may request a mailed box of materials related to Month of the Young Child including: Posters to display at their program location or to give to local businesses to promote the importance of child care in the community Buttons for staff and families to wear during the month of April Printed materials and resources from Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 A copy of this year’s PA One Book, “Mel Fell” by Corey R. Tabor Materials will be shipped by the end of March, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Request your MOYC box. Month of the Young Child Events MOYC Resource Open House Friday, April 7 The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, 7219 Kelly St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Details to come Student Affiliate Dinner Wednesday, April 12 | 5 – 8:30 p.m. Seton Hill University, Cecilian Hall Administration Building (2nd Floor), 1 Seton Hill Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601 Register Homewood Block Party Saturday, April 15 | 12 – 4 p.m. The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, 7219 Kelly St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Pre-registration not required Annual Celebration Dinner Thursday, April 27 | 6 – 8:30 p.m. Acrisure Stadium, UPMC Club, 100 Art Rooney Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Register About Month of the Young Child First established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1971, the Week of the Young Child is an opportunity to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.Over the years, with growing interest and focus, Trying Together designated the entire month of April as the Month of the Young Child (MOYC). In April 2023, we will offer opportunities to elevate and celebrate early childhood by providing resources, hosting, co-hosting, and participating in child and caregiver -focused events, and working with early learning programs to share MOYC materials and experiences. Learn More To learn more about Month of the Young Child, visit Trying Together’s Month of the Young Child webpage.
February 14, 2023 NAEYC Report Quantifies Impact of Recent Child Care Challenges The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has released a report on the results of their fall survey. Entitled, “Uncertainty Ahead Means Instability Now: Why Families, Children, Educators, Businesses, and States Need Congress to Fund Child Care,” the report quantifies the impact of recent child care challenges. About the NAEYC Survey and Report The NAEYC survey was conducted in October 2022 using SurveyMonkey. The resulting report represents the responses of 12,897 individuals working in all states (including 941 individuals working in Pennsylvania child care programs) and early childhood education settings, including faith-based programs, family child care homes, Head Starts, and child care centers. It is intended to present the experiences of the respondents, as captured in the moment that they took the survey. Summary of Pennsylvania Survey Data Data on Stabilization Grants Over the course of the pandemic, Pennsylvania utilized federal relief funding to stabilize the child care sector. This included one-time bonuses for child care teachers and increased subsidy payments for providers to increase staff salaries. However, this relief funding will soon end. As a result of the end of pandemic relief funding: 62% of Pennsylvania child care center directors reported that they will have to raise tuition 29% of Pennsylvania child care center directors reported they will have to cut staff salaries Data on Staffing and Supply 57.7% of Pennsylvania child care center directors reported serving fewer children than they would like, primarily due to staffing shortages 65.8% of Pennsylvania child care center directors reported currently experiencing a staffing shortage 33.7% of Pennsylvania early childhood educators (ECE) indicated “yes” or “maybe” to considering leaving their job or closing their family child care home 45.8% of family child care providers indicated “yes” or “maybe” to considering leaving their job 35.4% of ECEs in minority-owned child care businesses indicated “yes” or “maybe” to considering leaving their job 9.9% of ECEs in non-minority-owned child care businesses indicated “yes” or “maybe” to considering leaving their job However, the majority of ECEs indicated competitive wages would convince them to stay at their jobs. Data on ECE Workforce Well-Being 34.9% of Pennsylvania respondents reported experiencing financial insecurity in the last year, despite 54.7% reporting an increased wage Additionally, 78.6% of Pennsylvania respondents indicated that burnout/exhaustion contributed “greatly” or “to some extent” to problems retaining teachers NAEYC Recommendations NAEYC recommends that congress build on the successes of child care funding to prioritize additional, sustainable investments. These investments ensure programs and educators can meet the needs of families, children, and businesses, and states can continue to build towards an early childhood education system that works. Learn More To learn more about the NAEYC survey results, read the full report.
January 18, 2023 NAEYC 2023 Public Policy Forum (PPF) Are you a NAEYC member who is passionate about early childhood policy? Join fellow NAEYC members at this three-day forum and help us strengthen advocacy skills, expand policy knowledge, deepen relationships, and build power across states and communities! As a Public Policy Forum participant, NAEYC members have the opportunity to: Be part of a powerful team working to advance federal and state early childhood policy Hear from national and state policy leaders and fellow advocates Get the resources and experiences they need to be an informed and effective advocate Meet with members of Congress and build relationships with their staff and teams Forum Details Sunday, February 26, 2023 – Tuesday, February 28, 2023 Washington, DC Cost: $125 Registration NAEYC’s PPF is organized by state teams in order to build strong relationships and networks. To register, follow these steps: Find the name and email address for your state’s team leader on this spreadsheet. Send an email to your State Team Leader asking if you can join the team! Include your name and contact information. They will respond by providing you with the link to register. They may also ask you to share additional information to help them build a strong and connected team. Registration closes Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
October 10, 2022 Fall 2022 NAEYC Survey of the Field Available The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is conducting a new survey to gather current data from the field to inform federal and state actions on child care. (This article was updated on October 18 to reflect a new deadline). About the Survey From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAEYC has been surveying child care programs to convey the challenges they are facing across states and settings. Early childhood educators can answer the questions about how their programs are currently doing, regardless of what kind of child care program they work in or what role they have there. The survey will close on Sunday, October 23, 2022. Child Care Survey in English Child Care Survey in Spanish See results from past NAEYC surveys.
May 5, 2022 New Commission Releases Call for Applications from Early Childhood Educators Early childhood educators are invited to apply to serve on national a new Commission on Professional Excellence in Early Childhood Education. About the Commission Seventeen organizations – including the National Education Association (NEA), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and ZERO TO THREE – dedicated to young children formed the commission “to develop and promote the framework for a unified, cohesive, and equitable early childhood education profession informed by and in partnership with early childhood educators across states and settings,” according to a news release. The Commission is guided by the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council’s Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 report, the Power to the Profession Task Force’s Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession, and The Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators. Eligibility The Commission is opening an application process for individual early childhood educators to apply to be co-equal, full voting members. Eligibility and criteria information for applicants are available online. Apply The application is available in English and Spanish. Applications are open until Friday, May 27. The Commission will appoint up to seven early childhood educators, representing a diverse cross-section of the profession.
