NAEYCNEWS
Guiding Quality in Early Learning The Latest Updates to Our Learning Standards
Stacey French-Lee
Author’ s Note: As a decades-long early care and education professional and the chair of the working group revising our position statements, including“ Early Childhood Program Standards,” I’ ve seen firsthand how position statements serve as a cornerstone for our field and a guiding force driving NAEYC’ s impact.
The revision of the“ Early Childhood Program Standards” position statement reflects moderate updates informed by research, evidence, and educator experience and expertise. As a guiding document, it will continue to inform professional practice and shape policy, and in its revised state, align more closely with our updated early learning program accreditation model.
In this piece, we’ ll explore what position statements are, how they advance the field, and the ways in which your involvement has been critical to the revision process.
What Are Position Statements, and Why Do They Matter?
› Position statements are one of the key ways our Association provides a foundation to support and advance the field of early childhood education.
› They are developed through rigorous research, field feedback, and expert consensus.
› From guiding practitioner instruction to influencing policy decisions, position statements articulate a collective vision, outline recommendations, and create a framework that unites stakeholders— teachers, program leaders, policymakers, and advocates— around shared standards of excellence and equity.
› These statements are living documents that evolve as new insights, current research, practitioner experiences, and member and nonmember feedback inform NAEYC and the field.
Member Engagement and Impact
› In Fall 2024, NAEYC sought input and advice from early childhood educators, advocates, and allies on the revisions to two of our foundational position statements( the revised“ Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators” position statement will be released later this year). More than 1,000 educators took up those invitations by contributing public comments, joining revisions subcommittees, taking surveys, participating in focus groups, and spreading the word about the work. This process reflects our collaborative approach: Every educator’ s voice helps refine what“ quality” means in practice, inclusive of all program settings, age bands, and funding streams.
› Your engagement is how we keep position statements dynamic and relevant. But engaging in position statement development isn’ t only about further developing and influencing the field; it’ s also an opportunity for professional development— learning about policy, research, and effective practices that can enhance your program or teaching methods. This, in turn, strengthens our workforce and helps early childhood educators be recognized as the professionals we are.
60 Young Children
Summer 2025