Rights & Needs of Young Children
Defending the early years
DEY’s Mission
DEY’s Primary Goals
- To advocate at the grassroots, local, state, regional, and federal levels for education policies based on child development theory and research.
- To mobilize the early childhood community to speak up for age-appropriate standards, assessments, and classroom practices that are based on research.
- To promote appropriate practices in early childhood classrooms and to support educators in counteracting policies and practices that undermine whole child health and optimal learning.
What’s New at DEY?
Our latest podcast
Is a monthly discussion-styled podcast intended to amplify the voices of educators, activist and changemakers in early childhood education to work toward a more equitable and playful learning environment for children.
Leigh Anne Yuen, the Co-founder, director, and lead teacher at Garden Gate Child Development Center on Martha’s Vineyard. A veteran early childhood educator who works to create community for the children and their parents while advocating for them.
DEY seeks to rally parents and educators to take action on policies affecting the education of young children, by encouraging them to speak out with well-reasoned arguments against inappropriate standards, assessments, and classroom practices.
DEY provides mini-grants of between $200 and $500 to individuals and organizations to help foster work in communities across the country. DEY’s first mini-grant, awarded in 2014, resulted in a rally for play that took place in Minneapolis.
DEY
Are you concerned about the direction that education policy is going? We are, too!
Help DEY continue its important work advocating for appropriate education for young children. Please Consider Making a Donation.
Stay informed about what’s happening at Defending the Early Years.