Our Goal
NJAEYC’s public policy goal is to support a system of high quality early childhood education for all children from birth to age eight. We advocate for a system that provides supports for children, families, and the early education workforce.
Early childhood professionals who work with children each day know the challenges that families face. We are in the best position to make a difference for children. You can support our efforts as we advocate for the children in our state by donating to the NJAEYC and by staying involved! Check back here for ways you can timely advocate for high-quality early care and education at the state and national levels as issues arise! We need your voice.
NJAEYC’s work reflects the position of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Our position statements reflect research and evidence from the field. NJAEYC collaborates with like-minded organizations and works closely with state government organizations and legislators on policies impacting the field.
Our advocacy education program is conducted for all those in the field to inform them of critical issues facing the field of early care and education and provides them with the tools to effect positive change on behalf of children, families, the early childhood workforce and system-building efforts.
Public Policy AgendA
In order to support a strong future workforce and citizenry, New Jersey must ensure a high quality educational system beginning with well-financed early childhood programs and intentional efforts to ensure children and families have necessary health, mental health, nutrition, and parenting support.
Legislative Priorities
- Establish a systemic alignment of education from infancy through third grade
- Allow for parents’ choice in making decisions relevant to their children’s educational opportunities
- Support the Count All Kids efforts
- Support a statewide integration of professional development opportunities aimed at promoting the social and emotional well-being and inclusion of all New Jersey’s most vulnerable population, infants, toddlers and young children
- Encourage policymakers to continue to authorize and appropriate additional and sufficient state funding, with support from federal funding, to implement the requirements for health, safety, and quality without cutting the number of children and families served or cutting services to those who receive them
- Use funds to improve workforce compensation
- Encourage policymakers to allocate funds to support training and professional development, alongside methods such as wage supplements and tax credits, to keep educators in the field once they have received additional training and education
- Create professional development plans and joint training opportunities that include early childhood educators and administrators
- Work with policy makers, families, educators, and business leaders to bring us closer to fulfilling the mission of delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning for our children and families.
- Create advocacy campaigns to enable our members to contact state legislatures on critical issues that impact NJ children, families, and educators
- Engage and organize advocacy events to inform policymakers, state agencies, and early childhood stakeholders in New Jersey about early childhood issues
To accomplish the Public Policy Agenda constructively, NJAEYC will:
Influence state policies relative to:
- Exemplify a unified voice for early childhood education
- Promote developmentally appropriate practices for all early learning programs from birth through third grade
- Educate and inform federal and state legislators and NJ budget and education committees about the importance of and the needs of NJ children, families, and educators.
- Work in collaboration with and strengthen the partnership with national and state organizations, State departments and other key stakeholders to develop a policy agenda that supports birth through third grade initiatives for children, families and educators.
- Improve professional supports for the early childhood workforce
- Increase access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs