DEY

Advocacy

Campaigns

In Defense of Early Childhood Education and Care
Restoring the Link Between HIgh Quality and Child Development
1

Endorse Our Statement and Register for the Town Hall

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Name
Campaign Endorsers
1

Displaying 1 - 25 of 96

FirstLastAffiliationCity, State, Country
GeralynBywaterDEY BoardBoston, MA
BarbGroomsEarly Childhood Teacher EducatorChicago, IL
MaureenMcGurkNational Board Certified Teacher, middle childhoodSpringfield, PA
FrancineBukerMultnomah Education Service DistrictPortland
DarcyHeathPhoenix, AZ
SandyForemanArizonaPortland, Oregon, USA
JennyStahlPeoria School DistrictPhoenix
HughHanleyCircle of Songs with Hugh hanleyArlington, MA
BlakelyBundyDefending the Early YearsKey Largo, FL, USA
IshaChouhanBaktara
NancyCarlsson-PaigeDefending the Early YearsSomerville
AmyValensFilm maker "August To June, Bringing Life to School" & "Good Morning Mission Hill" retired Open Classroom teacher, Lagunitas School DistrictUnited States
DyLynnRobertsonMHCC Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipsPortland, Oregon USA
LoriFarrerWestern Michigan UniversityKalamazoo MI United States
CharmaineBonelloEarly Childhood Development Association of MaltaMalta
ChristaThomasUnplugged Adventures, llcPowder springs, GA USA
LoriFarrerWestern Michigan UniversityKalamazoo MI 49009
KristinMitchellCAP-WIAttica, IN, USA
KeeshaCeranAssociate Director, Teaching for ChangeWashington, D.C. USA
CarolGarboden MurrayWimpfheimer Nursery SchoolPoughkeepsie NY 12561
LauraRoushLaura's Learn and Play Nature SchoolFort Collins
KumuduniWijesingheEYET Early Learning CentToronto
LindsayNeffWilmington Delaware USA
SuzanneCourvilleSan Diego, CA
GretchenAmesEarly Childhood AdvocateSan Francisco, California, USA
FirstLastAffiliationCity, 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.  

Our In Defense of Early Childhood Education and Care Campaign will include the following:
  • 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.