How to Prepare for the NAEYC 2019 Public Policy Forum

Learn more about how America for Early Childhood Education is working with the federal government to tackle public policy and what you and your classroom can personally do to help.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) continuously promotes high-quality learning by connecting practice, policy, and research. The NAEYC 2019 Public Policy Forum creates the perfect opportunity for YOU to change early childhood for the better by participating in NAEYC’s annual forum.

What is the NAEYC Public Policy Forum?

The Public Policy Forum is the place for young professionals to go and be heard on current issues within early childhood education. It provides the opportunity to become more engaged and connected in regards to the early childhood education profession and supporting young children.

Take a moment to think about the power that early childhood educators have over children in today’s society. Now think about how today’s children are the nation’s largest investment. This is why it needs to be a top priority to empower educators with the resources and compensation they need and deserve. In addition to teachers, the child makes up a majority of the classroom. Regardless of a child’s background or family status, research suggests that children need to maximize their learning potential during the potent years of their developmental span. The economic struggle should not be a reason for children to fall short of an education. If a child starts their education late, studies show that he or she will continue to stay behind their classmates who otherwise began their education on time. With that being said, high-quality educators will drive high-quality early learning.

This is where NAEYC’s 2019 Public Policy Forum comes into play. Even if you have no advocacy experience whatsoever, this Forum is THE place for you to help more a nonpartisan agenda for these young children. The 2019 Public Policy Forum is hosted at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington Va. from February 24–26, 2019.

According to The NAEYC Policy Forum website, the key goals for the 2019 Forum participants include:

• acquire increased knowledge about federal and state policy landscapes
• gain useful and applicable skills, strategies, tools, and resources
• establish new and stronger relationships with fellow advocates within and across state teams
• feel confident and prepared for Hill meetings

The Public Policy Forum may appear to be an intimidating event, but it is extremely beneficial in getting your voice heard- especially for anyone who is passionate about children, families, or early childhood education. Individuals from all across the country gather at Capitol Hill with hopes of convincing legislators to advocate for a specific issue.

Being a strong advocate means being an informed advocate. In order to prepare ahead of time, review materials in advance. Policy staff organizes webinars with various recommendations. Check those out for helpful tips.

It is also important to brief yourself on the policies at hand so that you are more prone to ask meaningful questions and make cohesive comments. This page from NAEYC’s website will give you an inside look at policy topics. Some of these areas include budget and appropriations, child care, Head Start, and tax strategies.

Policymakers on The Hill are important; however, it is also necessary to interact with and understand those state-level policymakers who care about delivering high-quality early childhood education. Once you identify your state legislator, give them a follow via social media to receive quick updates on their everyday thoughts.

With everyone’s help, the nations’ policies will catch up with the science behind the importance of developing the brains of young learners and the benefits of investing in high-quality early learning. Support early education by helping NAEYC work to ensure political candidates and policymakers embrace early learning as a must, with a commitment from them to expand opportunity, support excellence, and value early childhood educators.