The Council for Professional Recognition Newsletter article


Advocacy Links Teachers who work with young children know that there is ongoing need for high quality early childhood programs. To achieve this goal, we must interest the general public and policymakers in supporting increased funding and better regulations for educational services for children and families. Working to promote expanded programs and funding is called advocacy and the Internet abounds with excellent information to help us improve our effectiveness as advocates. Each issue of CounciLINK will feature a resource for advocacy to help readers build their links to helpful information and tools. This issue's *Advocacy Link* is to NAEYC. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers a free service titled “NAEYC Children's Champions Update.” Readers sign up for email updates to stay informed about current child and family issues being considered by Congress and the Administration. The July 7, 2008, Update summarizes funding bills moving through Congress as well as early childhood bills moving through Congressional Committees. To receive these Updates, go to the NAEYC website http://www.naeyc.org/policy and click on “Join Our E-Mail List.” While you are on NAEYC's Public Policy page, check out the wealth of additional information such as: answers to questions about child care and education by Presidential Candidates; State Trends and Policies; and a Toolbox for Advocates that includes everything from “Do's and Don'ts in an Election Year” to “Steps in Making a Bill into a Law.” Another NAEYC resource not to be missed is a series of excellent short articles written for parents that can be downloaded free to insert in your newsletter. This resource is called “Early Years Are Learning Years”™ (EYLYs) and it can be found at http://www.naeyc.org/policy. Examples of recent topics include: Choosing a Preschool; Helping Young Children Start School; and Helping Toddlers Become Problem Solvers.

Advocacy Links

Teachers who work with young children know that there is ongoing need for high quality early childhood programs. To achieve this goal, we must interest the general public and policymakers in supporting increased funding and better regulations for educational services for children and families. Working to promote expanded programs and funding is called advocacy and the Internet abounds with excellent information to help us improve our effectiveness as advocates. Each issue of CounciLINK will feature a resource for advocacy to help readers build their links to helpful information and tools. This issue's Advocacy Link is to NAEYC.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers a free service titled “NAEYC Children's Champions Update.” Readers sign up for email updates to stay informed about current child and family issues being considered by Congress and the Administration. The July 7, 2008, Update summarizes funding bills moving through Congress as well as early childhood bills moving through Congressional Committees. To receive these Updates, go to the NAEYC website http://www.naeyc.org/policy and click on “Join Our E-Mail List.”

While you are on NAEYC's Public Policy page, check out the wealth of additional information such as: answers to questions about child care and education by Presidential Candidates; State Trends and Policies; and a Toolbox for Advocates that includes everything from “Do's and Don'ts in an Election Year” to “Steps in Making a Bill into a Law.”

Another NAEYC resource not to be missed is a series of excellent short articles written for parents that can be downloaded free to insert in your newsletter. This resource is called “Early Years Are Learning Years”™ (EYLYs) and it can be found at http://www.naeyc.org/policy. Examples of recent topics include: Choosing a Preschool; Helping Young Children Start School; and Helping Toddlers Become Problem Solvers.