March 14, 2025 NAEYC Responds to Department of Education Reductions The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has responded to the Trump Administration taking steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. In the statement NAEYC outlines the potential impact for young children, families, and educators. The Department oversees funding and programs that support children with disabilities (including early intervention), Title I funds for low-income schools (which can support pre-k and the transition to kindergarten), as well as civil rights protections from various forms of discrimination and higher education loan and repayment programs that likely impact many early educators in the field. Learn More Nearly half of the Department of Education’s staff has been laid off and the Trump Administration has indicated that it plans to transfer education oversight from the federal government to the states. Trump is expected to soon sign an executive order to close the department. “Laying off nearly half of the department’s dedicated public servants – who lead research into what works, provide support to teachers, and help students access and afford post-secondary education – will negatively impact children, families, and educators, both immediately and in the future,” the NAEYC statement read. “NAEYC, in keeping with its mission to promote high-quality early learning for each and every child birth through 8, strongly urges the administration to reconsider and reverse course.” NAEYC goes on to note that the department cannot legally be eliminated without Congress’ involvement. However, as the administration begins to move core services out of the department and eliminates a large part of its workforce, the ability for the department to adequately provide important services would be affected, NAEYC said. Vital Services NAEYC cited a number of services that the Department of Education offers to students and families, including: Support children with or at-risk for developmental delays and disabilities from early childhood through school age, including individualized education programs and support services and access to preschool special education and early intervention services Funding supports for students and families, especially those in low-income communities and those with disabilities, through access to support services, tutoring, early learning, and after-school services Protecting children from race, gender, or disability-based discrimination in public schools Supporting educators in growing their expertise and advancing their careers through professional development, access to higher education, grants, scholarships, and student loans Supporting student borrowers with navigating repayment options and accessing loan forgiveness programs Helping students and student parents to access higher education, including through campus-based child care and work-study opportunities “Parents and educators want a Department of Education that supports learners of all ages, provides resources to ensure all children can succeed, and removes barriers that prevent children from accessing a quality education,” the NAEYC statement read. Trying Together encourages concerned families and educators to fill out the NAEYC survey and share a story to help make the case for investing in – not cutting – federal support for children, families, and early childhood educators.
December 30, 2024 Registration Open for NAEYC’s 2025 Public Policy Forum Registration is now open for the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) 2025 Public Policy Forum. Learn More The annual forum will be held in Washington, D.C. from Sunday, February 23 to Tuesday, February 25. The forum is expected to bring together hundreds of early childhood educators and stakeholders. The event aims to strengthen advocacy skills, expand policy knowledge, deepen relationships with congressional offices, and build a movement across states and communities. Each state will have a state team lead who will coordinate congressional meetings with state team members. After registering, keep an eye out for emails from state team leads with more information about meetings and opportunities to engage. The forum will begin at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 23. Registration is now open. The registration fee for the forum is $150 per registrant, and the cutoff date to register is Friday, January 24. Any questions should be directed to naeycppfsupport@cmrus.com or 800-450-5185.
December 19, 2024 Registration Open for Trying Together’s Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner Trying Together will host its Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner on April 10. Registration is now open for the event. Learn More The dinner is held to celebrate early childhood educators during April’s Month of the Young Child. The event includes a dinner, photo booth, prizes, and more. This year’s dinner will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10 at Acrisure Stadium, located at 100 Art Rooney Ave. in Pittsburgh. Individual tickets are $15 and groups of 10 may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $135. Registrants are encouraged to consider the value of individual and group rate tickets – $140 and $1,400, respectively – and contribute more if they are willing and able to do so. This is a high-demand event, so seating will be based on a first-come, first-served basis that evening and reserved tables will not be available. Free parking will be available for guests. Registration will close when capacity is met or by March 28. Businesses, organizations, and individuals can recognize early childhood caregivers by purchasing full-color advertisements to appear in the 2025 Annual Celebration of Early Childhood Educators Dinner program book. The deadline to reserve an ad or name in the recognition list is Friday, January 17. Those interested in attending can register now. Any questions should be emailed to info@tryingtogether.org. Month of the Young Child First established in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Week of the Young Child was 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. Due to growing interest and focus, Trying Together later designated the entire month of April as the Month of the Young Child. It is recognized as a time during which the dedicated work of early educators is promoted for the essential role that it plays in society.
November 26, 2024 Applications Open for Equity in Early Childhood Champion Awards Applications are now open for Pennsylvania’s fourth annual Equity in Early Childhood Champion Awards. Learn More The award brings awareness to and highlights equity work within the state’s early childhood education settings, including child care, evidence-based home visiting, and early intervention programs. Nominees for the award are professionals and organizations that align with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education Position Statement. Pennsylvania recognizes achievements in advancing equity by individuals and early childhood education and afterschool programs. The process is open to nominate individuals or programs that have demonstrated support to children and their families by embracing diversity and full inclusion as strengths, upholding fundamental principles of fairness and justice, or working to eliminate structural inequities that limit equitable learning opportunities. Applicants must demonstrate how the individual, early childhood, or afterschool program has supported children and their families in these specific areas. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24. For more information or to apply, visit The Pennsylvania Key website.
April 17, 2024 OCDEL Announces 2024 Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Award Recipients The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Equity in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Champion Award. Several local child care providers were among this year’s recipients. About the Equity in ECE Champion Award The Equity in Early Childhood Education Champion Award recognizes the equity work of Pennsylvania early childhood education (ECE) programs and professionals, and highlights the impact of that work on staff, children, and families within early childhood education settings. The award recipients’ work aligns with the state Department of Education’s Equity and Inclusion Toolkit and the position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Local Award Recipients Award recipients for 2024 in the region included: Gold Level Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh Pre-K Kids Learning Center, New Castle Silver Level AIU/Steel Valley Family Center, Homestead Brightside Academy, Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh Jack Safer, President & CEO, Brightside Academy, Pittsburgh Bronze Level Dr. Shawna Starling, Vice President of Intervention and Development Services, Brightside Academy, Pittsburgh Shady Lane School, Pittsburgh Learn More The Equity in Early Childhood Education Award brings awareness to and highlights the equity work taking place within the state’s early childhood education and afterschool settings by child care, evidence-based home visiting, and early intervention professionals and organizations that support the National Association for the Education of Young Children. An appreciation event will be held at the State Capitol Rotunda, located at 501 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. The event is open to the public.
March 2, 2022 Survey: Chronic Child Care Staffing Shortages Persist, Threaten Economy To understand the depth of the ongoing child care crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has been surveying thousands of programs across states and settings. Current survey results show that federal and state relief funds have provided critical support for stabilizing child care programs. NAEYC Pandemic Survey NAEYC’s newest survey results, completed in January 2022 by nearly 5,000 respondents working in child care centers and family child care homes, shows that two-thirds of respondents reported experiencing a staffing shortage that affected their ability to serve families. The survey also showed that stabilization grants provided through the American Rescue Plan were critical in helping child care facilities stay open, including during the recent COVID-19 Omicron wave, even if providers were simultaneously unable to serve all families who needed care. Statistics 75% of respondents reported that the end of stabilization grants would have a negative or highly negative effect on their programs. Of the respondents who said they knew enough about Build Back Better’s investments in child care and pre-k to answer the question, 89% agreed that it would “secure the future of our program,” including 86% of respondents from family child care homes and 85% of respondents from faith-based programs. 28% of respondents reported that they are definitely or maybe considering leaving their program or closing their child care home in 2022. This comes on top of recent findings from Child Care Aware of America indicating that between December 2019 and March 2021—during the pandemic but before ARP funds started to go out—8,889 child care centers and 6,957 licensed family child care homes were permanently closed. More Information For access to prior survey data and analyses: Visit NAEYC.org/pandemic-surveys Read the Survey Brief: Saved But Not Solved: America’s Economy Needs Congress to Fund Child Care Read the press release
January 11, 2022 January 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. 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 regardless of whether their child care program is open, closed, or somewhere in between, and regardless of what kind of child care program they work in, or what role they have there. The survey will close on Monday, January 17, 2022. Child Care Survey in English Child Care Survey in Spanish
