National Association for the Education of Young Children
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| National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) | |
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| Founded | 1926/1929 (Washington, DC) by Patty Smith Hill |
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| Approximate Membership | 100,000 |
| President | Anne Mitchell |
| Annual Conference | Held in November or December |
| Publications | Young Children (YC) and Early Childhood Research Quarterly |
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the largest nonprofit association in the United States representing early childhood education teachers, experts, and advocates in center-based and family day care. The association was called NANE until it changed its name to NAEYC in 1964.
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[edit] History
In the 1920s, concern over the varying quality of emerging nursery school programs in the United States triggered Patty Smith Hill to gather prominent figures in the field to decide how to best ensure the existence of high quality programs. Meeting in Washington, DC, the group negotiated the issue of a manual, called Minimum Essentials for Nursery Education, that set out standards and methods of acceptable nursery schools. Three years later, the group cemented the existence of a professional association of nursery school experts named the National Association for Nursery Education (NANE). NANE changed its name to NAEYC in 1964.
The association has existed for 80 years and has recently broadened its work to include national child development conferences. The association also publishes a professional journal and books, both relating to the education of young children, and is active in public policy work. The association is well known for accrediting high-quality child care/preschool centers, and more than 10,000 centers, programs and schools have earned NAEYC Accreditation.
[edit] Mission Statement & Goals
NAEYC's mission is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources (NAEYC Bylaws, Article I., Section 1.1).
NAEYC's mission is based on three major goals: Bettering well-qualified practitioners and improving the conditions these professionals work in, improving early childhood education by working to deliver a high-quality system of supporting early childhood programs, and encouraging excellence in childhood education for all children by constructing an extaordinary, all-around organization of groups and individuals who are committed to promoting excellence in early childhood education for all young children.[1]
[edit] Accreditation
As of 2007, the NAEYC accredits over 20,000 early childhood programs according to health, safety and education standards it first launched in 1985.[2][3][4] In 2006, the NAEYC updated its accreditation process. The new standards were intended to provide a more reliable and accountable accreditation system and to encourage the field of early childhood education to strive for a new level of excellence. [5]
The NAEYC also accredits academic degree programs for early childhood educators.[6]
[edit] Structure
The NAEYC has a structure of state and local chapters that are semi-autonomous but that are required to contribute part of the membership dues to the national organization. The NAEYC is seeking more control over the local chapters to ensure that the local chapters have appropriate fiscal and legal practices.
[edit] Current Programs
NAEYC provides many different programs to assist professionals who work to educate young children. They are a leading publisher of educational resources, which include books, videos and posters that can assist in the teaching of young children. The NAEYC also publishes two scholarly journals to help early childhood professionals and parents stay informed about the latest research on educating children age 0-8. These journals are Young Children and Early Childhood Research Quarterly. Every year the NAEYC offers several conferences where participants can learn about professional developments for their fields as well as focusing on the improvements that have been made in the practices, policies and research.
The NAEYC goes beyond publications, conferences and videos, and offers a program called “Supporting Teachers, Strengthening Families” that is designed to assist in the fight to prevent child abuse and promote healthy social and emotional development in young children. This program works by teaching the educators how to better communicate with the families of their students. Another important program sponsored by the NAEYC is the “Week of the Young Child”. This is a week long promotion every spring that brings public awareness to the importance of early childhood development and education.
[edit] Political Issues
The NAEYC encourages its supporters to be informed of current issues and legislation that affect the lives of young children. At the NAEYC Action Center[7] individuals can find information about the federal legislative process, learn how to contact members of congress and see the daily agenda for the House and the Senate.[1]
[edit] Journals and Publications
The following publications are released and sponsored by NAEYC:[8]
Young Children
Young Children is a peer reviewed journal published bi-monthly by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In this journal, issues are organized around topical clusters that devote special attention to issues in the field of early childhood education. [2]
Early Childhood Research Quarterly
Early Childhood Research Quarterly is a research journal that is published four times a year, and contains current research in early childhood. [3]
Early Years are Learning Years
Early Years Are Learning Years is a publication that focuses attention on the importance of the early years for children's learning and development. It is made up of short articles which are directed at the parents of young children as well as others who are involved in the development of young children. [4]
[edit] See also
[edit] Presidents of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
| Name | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Evangeline H. Ward | 1972-1974 | |
| D. Bruce Gardner | 1974-1976 | |
| Bernard Spodek | 1976-1978 | |
| Jan McCarthy | 1978-1980 | |
| Barbara T. Bowman | 1980-1982 | |
| Bettye M. Caldwell | 1982-1984 | |
| Docia Zavitkovsky | 1984-1986 | |
| David Elkind | 1986-1988 | |
| Ellen Galinsky | 1988-1990 | |
| Lana Hostetler | 1990-1992 | |
| Lilian G. Katz | 1992-1994 | |
| Jerlean Daniel | 1994-1996 | |
| Richard M. Clifford | 1996-1998 | |
| Sharon Lynn Kagan | 1998-1999 | |
| Kathy R. Thornburg | 2000-2001 | |
| Jane Wiechel | 2002-2004 | |
| Dwayne Crompton | 2005 | |
| Josue Cruz, Jr. | 2005-2006 | |
| Anne Mitchell | 2006-2007 | |
| Sue Russell | 2007-2008 |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ NAEYC. Missions and Goals.Online October 2007. http://www.naeyc.org/about/mission.asp.
- ^ NAEYC. Accreditation.Online October 2007.http://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/
- ^ NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation. NAEYC. Retrieved on 2008-06-09. “Today, nearly 10,000 NAEYC accredited early childhood education programs serve families around the nation.”
- ^ History of NAEYC Accreditation. Retrieved on 2008-06-09. “In 1985, NAEYC established its accreditation system to set professional standards for early childhood programs and to help families identify high-quality programs. NAEYC Accreditation is a voluntary system”
- ^ http://www.naeyc.org/academy/programs/FourStepsOverview.asp
- ^ Promoting Quality through Accreditation. NAEYC. Retrieved on 2008-06-09. “NAEYC has launched a new accreditation system to recognize high-quality Associate Degree Programs that prepare early childhood educators....NAEYC also recognizes high-quality Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs,...”
- ^ NAEYC Action Center. http://capwiz.com/naeyc/home/
- ^ NAEYC. Accreditation.Online October 2007.http://www.naeyc.org/pubs/
