profession. It includes definitions of terms and outlines steps needed to
Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education
A growing body of research and professional knowledge underscores the complex and critical ways in which early childhood educators promote early learning through their relationships— with children, families, and colleagues— that are embedded in a broader societal context of inequities in which implicit and explicit bias are pervasive. The“ Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education” position statement( NAEYC 2019) arose after significant reflection and with humility and awareness of NAEYC’ s own history and limitations, in keeping with its core belief in continuous quality improvement.
In this statement, NAEYC shares its vision and commitment to becoming a more diverse, highperforming, and inclusive organization serving a more diverse, high-performing, and inclusive
› Provide high-quality early learning programs that build on each child’ s unique individual and family strengths, cultural background, language( s), abilities, and experiences
› Eliminate differences in educational outcomes as a result of who children are, where they live, and what resources their families have
Specific recommendations are provided for the array of participants within the early childhood ecosystem, along with a synthesis of current early childhood education research through the lenses of equity and NAEYC core values.
Like the other core statements,“ Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education” developed over time and with input from many groups. After looking at NAEYC’ s position statements available in 2017, the Governing Board decided a new one was needed that focused on issues related to equity and diversity. A workgroup of 30 thought leaders engaged in discussions that formed the foundation for“ Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education.” There were cycles of writing drafts and
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