Here is our monthly dose of “5-Bullet-Point Friday” a list of NJAEYC public policy stuff we think you might be interested in.

Anything that is BLUE, just click on it for more details

What’s going on in the US –NJAEYC joins NAEYC in congratulating President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their historic inauguration and look forward to working together with the new administration and Congress to provide desperately needed investments that support children, families, and early childhood educators. We all need to work together to make early childhood education a priority for our legislators in order to build a system that provides quality, affordable, and equitable early childhood education for families and compensation for educators that reflects the skilled, valuable, and essential nature of their work.

To read more click Be the light | NAEYC

What’s going on in NJ –  National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) is launching a new policy research center focused on education and care for infants and toddlers. (ITC@NIEER). The ITC@NIEER will host, “A Conversation on Child Care and Education for Infants and Toddlers in New Jersey: 5 Things We Know and 5 Things We Don’t but Should,” on Feb. 19 at 1:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by Dr. Arturo Brito, executive director of The Nicholson Foundation. The panelist include: ITC@NIEER Project Director Allison Friedman-Krauss; New Jersey Division of Family Development Director Natasha Johnson; Programs for Parents CEO Beverly Lynn; and Cecilia Zalkind, president and CEO of Advocates for Children of New Jersey. Registration information will be available soon. SAVE THE DATE.

To read more click January 29, 2021 – Volume 20, Issue 4 – National Institute for Early Education Research (nieer.org)

What’s coming up– NAEYC will host a virtual Public Policy Forum on February 28 & March 1, 2021. Early childhood colleagues from across the country will participate in a variety of workshops and activities to become more informed, engaged, connected and effective. As a Public Policy Forum participant, NAEYC members have the opportunity to be part of a powerful team working to advance federal and state early childhood policy, hear from national and state policy leaders and fellow advocates, get the resources and experiences they need to be an informed and effective advocate and virtually meet with members of Congress and build relationships with their staff and teams.

To read more click here: Public Policy Forum | NAEYC If you are interested in virtually joining the New Jersey team please send an email to mail@njaeyc.org.

Something you might like – Since the 2020 election Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) has helped develop policy recommendations for the new administration for a more effective and equitable child care system. These policy recommendations include:

  1. Child Care and Early Learning—Addressing the Urgent Crisis and Investing in the Future (ChildCareCoalitionTransitionAgenda2021.pdf (childcareaware.org)
  2. Proposal to Establish a White House Office on Children and Youth (White House Office on Children and Youth – Sign-On Letter vF.pdf (childcareaware.org)
  3. Improving Access to Affordable, High-Quality Child Care (Letter to Biden Admin re Child Care 12.21.20.pdf (childcareaware.org).

To read more click here.

Quote we’re pondering –  “There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” Amanda Gorman, the Inaugural Poet

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

NJAEYC Public Policy Team