Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Federal advocacy & updates

    Posted 10-21-2021 04:45 PM

    Hello everyone,

    Thank you all for continuing to share your child care and early learning questions, thoughts, concerns, hopes, needs, and fears. I've seen a few questions come through lately about the state of ECE programs and the outlines of the proposed federal investments, so in case folks haven't been tracking elsewhere, I wanted to post just a few things here on Hello!

    First, please know that with the support of Affiliates, advocates, and educators across the country, NAEYC has been relentlessly engaged with key Congressional offices, advocating to ensure that the proposed $450 billion investment in early childhood education remains a top priority in the Build Back Better reconciliation bill. Though it's too much to cover fully in this post, I am happy to answer questions anytime about specific elements in the bill; you can also check out this FAQ resource that we worked on with friends at the First Five Years Fund. As you review, however, remember that there are still lots of negotiations underway; it's a difficult process to get to agreement, and there may be changes in both funding and policies.

    This also means it's an incredibly meaningful moment to make sure your elected officials – state and federal – continue to hear from their constituents about the importance of prioritizing investments that lower costs for families, increase pay for early childhood educators, and provide simultaneous support for mixed-delivery, high-quality child care and prek (and yes, to answer at least one question, the preK program is structured to be mixed-delivery and support centers and family child care who are or could be providing preschool). 

    • If you haven't sent an email or made a call to your elected officials, now is a really great time to do so! Here is the link for our action alert – it'll take only a couple of minutes for you to do the important work of making your voice heard today: https://www.votervoice.net/NAEYC/campaigns/86923/respond 
    • We also encourage you to stay engaged on social media, using the hashtag #SolveChildCare, as a way to track what's happening and contribute to the conversation. 
    • We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has shared their stories, and you can check out some of your fellow educators' quotes on the updated state survey data PDFs, which you can access via naeyc.org/pandemic-surveys
    • If you are able to share your own story (including challenges you're facing, as well as successes from stabilization and relief funding), please use this Google form (in English or in Spanish), or add directly onto this NAEYC Twitter thread.

    We know there may be trade-offs and challenges – but we also know that it's been 50 years since child care has had this kind of attention and opportunity. In just one example of the spotlight, President Biden and Vice President Harris both visited child care centers last week - shout out to our friends in NJ (including the President of NJAEYC) and CT (including Commissioner Beth Bye, a former child care provider herself!) who were able to welcome them and share information about the importance of child care and early learning!

    We also know that policymakers could visit amazing programs in each and every community (and they do!) and we thank you all for everything you're doing, as always. Please make sure you take action with the alert, and then share the link with your colleagues and families in your programs to help us flood offices with the voices of people holding their elected officials accountable for providing support to children, families, and early childhood educators. We'll continue to keep you posted here, via NAEYC Notes, at our upcoming Annual Conference, and through your Affiliates, as the federal process moves forward.

    In the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out with questions, and we hope you all continue to stay safe and well,

    Lauren 



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    Lauren Hogan
    Managing Director, Policy and Professional Advancement
    National Association for the Education of Young Children

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  • 2.  RE: Federal advocacy & updates

    Posted 10-22-2021 10:33 AM
    HI Lauren,
    Thank you so much for those great suggestions on how we can stay actively involved on Social media and with Government. 
       Since Child Care and Early Education is also a Workforce issue, and current shortages of High Quality Care are preventing people (Mostly women) from going back to work.. are there ways we can also advocate with Business and Industry to provide some responsibility, financial directly to Centers or Benefits to their employees as well as other supports for Child Care?   A partnership and blended funding from the private and government sectors would provide so much more stability.   
    thank  you   Lynn

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    Lynn Hartle
    Professor of Education
    The Penn State Univ. Brandywine
    Media PA
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  • 3.  RE: Federal advocacy & updates

    Posted 10-23-2021 07:05 AM
    Hi Lauren,
    I am a student at Ferris State University and I work at a private childcare center.  I am enrolled in a course called Advocacy in Early Childhood Education, and my purpose is to advocate for children and families in some capacity.  I chose to advocate for affordable, accessible, and high-quality childcare for all children.  I have encouraged all childcare workers, parents, family and friends to contact their legislators to make sure to pass legislation to support early childhood education and give the families in this country to get access to affordable, quality childcare from birth through age 13.  This legislation will also help to increase the wages of childcare workers which is needed so badly and help with the increase of workers in this line of work.

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    Toria Jenkins
    Essexville MI
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