Early Childhood Education for Today’s World

And for Today’s Children

The Recent Work and Position of the

National Association for the Education of Young Children

(NAEYC)

Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D.

Executive Director

NAEYC

Washington, DC

Abstract and Presentation Summary

Since 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children has been involved with the professional development of early childhood professionals, development of early childhood resources, creation of consensus driven position statements about critical issues, formulating of educational standards for the preparation of early childhood teachers and setting accreditation standards for center-based early childhood education programs.

The purpose of this session will be to overview the historical work of the NAEYC, present information about the changes that are taking place to our internationally respected accreditation program and discuss our latest position statements about early childhood literacy and mathematics, professional ethics and curriculum, assessment and instructional issues.

Our recent work has included the “reinvention” of our large program accreditation system. The NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation currently accredits nearly 10,000 programs serving nearly 1,000,000 children. In addition, our recent initiatives also include advocacy for innovative governmental policies supporting quality practice and the drafting of new position statements about critical issues for the field of early childhood education.

Our initiative to re-invent NAEYC Accreditation includes major changes to both the structure of our accreditation process, which is an important international model for measuring quality in early childhood education services, as well as our recent work to develop new program standards and revised accreditation criteria. The association also recently completed two new NAEYC position statements regarding both professional ethics and important curriculum, assessment and instructional issues. It is anticipated that these position statements will have an influential impact on the early childhood field both in the United States and in other parts of the world.

Additionally, this presentation also will provide a context for an array of other contemporary early childhood education issues that transcend international borders including the financing of early childhood education services, the education and training of early childhood professionals, and innovative issues with respect to early childhood practice and pedagogy.