
Read, Endorse, and Share Our Statement
What We Know ABout Child Development References
First | Last | Affiliation | City, State, Country |
---|---|---|---|
Laura | Sedlock | NYC Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood | New York City |
Francine | Buker | Multnomah Education Service District | Portland |
Angela | Morgan | Program Director, Woodland Academy Child Development Center | Philadelphia PA 19143 |
Patricia | Barton | AZ Montessori Teacher Education Program | Mesa, AZ USA |
Gwen | Agna | Retired principal- Northampton Public Schools | Northampton, MA USA |
Meagan | Davis | Little Bronchos Preschool | Lafayette, Indiana, USA |
Marie | Forst | Shady Side Academy | Glenshaw |
Lori | Farrer | Western Michigan University- Early Childhood teacher educator | Kalamazoo MI 49009 |
Romelle | Moore | Bank Street College | NY,NY 10032 |
RaeAnn | Shelley | Davis School District | Roy, UT, USA |
Donna | Grady | Franklin Education Association | Franklin, MA, USA |
Carmen | Woeltge | CHISAGO LAKES Early Childhood Programs | Chisago City, MN, USA |
Evisi | Hoxha | Revere MA, USA | |
Elizabeth | Dreyfuss | Shaker Heights Youth Center | Cleveland |
Mindy | Holohan | Faculty Specialist, Western Michigan University- Family Science and Human Development program | Grand Rapids, MI, USA |
Kimberly | Vanderbilt | CUNY Lehman College | Bronx New York |
Malissa | Harris | Little Miracles EDC | Columbus, OHIO, USA |
Peter | Rawitsch | Love Our Children NC | WILMINGTON. NC, USA |
Nora | Krieger | Bloomfield College/NJ Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia | Highland Park, NJ - United States |
Marlene | Patterson | Former Baltimore City Public School | Wilmington, NC 28401 |
Kipp | Dawson | Retired teacher (PFT400/AFT) | Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
Jennifer | Haggart | Advocate for High Quality ECE | Omaha, NE, USA |
Helen | Frazier | Bank Street College of Education | NY, NY |
Mary | Dent | District of Columbia public Schools | Silver Spring,Maryland United of America |
Sarah | Snow | Child Care Network | Ann Arbor, MI, USA |
First | Last | Affiliation | City, State, Country |
Join Us as we advocate in defense of early childhood education and care that restores the link between high quality and principles of child development!
Despite decades of research on child development that provides a blueprint for designing high-quality early childhood education and care programs, we continue to see a rise in the proliferation of harmful curricula and pedagogies for young children. Educators trained in child development know how to provide high-quality early childhood education and care. Unfortunately, our lawmakers and elected officials are allowing corporations and consultants to push inappropriate curriculums and instructional strategies under a misguided belief that high quality must be tied to academic learning and rigid teacher-directed practices.
The Issue
High-quality early childhood education and care must be based on principles of child development. The research on how young children develop makes it clear that they need ample time to play, inquire, build, create, sing, move, talk, and pursue their own interests. High-quality early childhood education and care promote environments and practices that center on whole child development. Attempts to force academic instruction into pre-kindergarten classrooms have led to worse academic outcomes by sixth grade (see a guest blog on this study). An early focus on academic skills does not allow young children to develop the foundational skills needed to support academic achievement later. The time has come for us to advocate for restoring the link between high quality and child development. We must resist demands from those who do not understand how children develop, demands that jeopardize the ability of our children to experience true early childhood education and care.
Stand with us as defenders of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Sign up to join our advocacy campaign. We will share opportunities to amplify your voice in ensuring all children have access to high-quality early childhood education and care programs.
- A sign-on statement that briefly outlines the issue and what we are fighting for.
- Mini-videos with supporters discussing the campaign and strategies for change.
- One-page fact sheets for advocating.
- Space and tools for networking regionally.
- Templates for writing letters to elected officials and op-eds.
- DEY Virtual Town Halls.
- Social media content and resource materials.