February 2023 Update

Working for a just,
equitable, and quality
early childhood education 
for every young child.
Defending the Early Years, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Donations are tax deductible. Our Tax ID: 82-4308558
Follow DEY for the latest updates
This year our FREE VIRTUAL Summer Institute acknowledges the people, actions, and practices that get us closer to ensuring all children have a just and equitable early childhood education.

We recognize the challenges and will continue strategizing on how best to overcome them, but after five years, we believe it’s time to focus on the solutions.
  • How are educators engaging in best practices to support young children?
  • What wins have advocates made to improve systems of early care and education?
  • How can the latest research have a positive impact on our practices?

We invite you to join us as we highlight a few examples of what works in early childhood education.

SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 26, 27, & 28, 2023, 4-6 PM EST!

REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/DEY2023SI
Our ED Denisha Jones Keynotes The Teaching Kindergarten Conference
at Bank Street College
Teaching Kindergarten Conference: Where Did the Garden...

Conferences & Institutes 2023: Thinking, Exploring & Rebuilding Together Online Friday, March 3 from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET Saturday, March 4 from 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM ET Find your spark and collaborate with a community of educators...

Read more
graduate.bankstreet.edu
The DEY Podcast With Kisha Reid EP: 018

"The DEY Podcast with Kisha Reid" is available monthly with fresh interviews!

This month, Kisha Reid interviews Kisa Marx.
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In this keynote, early childhood leaders, professionals, and caregivers will explore the Journey to Nia™ curriculum to begin:

*Envisioning Black child joy

*Supporting positive Black racial and cultural identity development

*Identifying anti-Black racism in early care and education environments

This keynote is presented by CEO and founder Takiema Bunche Smith and sponsored by United Way of Greater New Haven

This is a FREE virtual event.

Registration is currently available for all 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-history-month-journey-to-nia-keynote-tickets-533782817777
DEY Advocacy Map
Did you know that ...
  • New Mexico will provide free child care for the majority of its families, starting in fall 2023?

  • A recent survey by the Buffett Institute found that COVID-19 continues to compound Nebraska's child care crisis, including high staff turnover and staff burnout.

  • Illinois passed the "Too Young to Test" bill which prohibits testing of children in pre-kindergarten through second grade?
Find out about these and other early childhood news on the Defending the Early Years Advocacy Map.
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GRANTS TO FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS FOCUSED ON PLAY-BASED LEARNING.
Defending the Early Years is excited to offer our mini-grant initiative to help foster your good work in your community as related to DEY’s three principle goals:

  1. To advocate at the grassroots, local, state, regional, and federal levels for education policies based on child development theory and research.
  2. To mobilize the early childhood community to speak up for age-appropriate standards, assessments, and classroom practices that are based on research.
  3. To promote appropriate practices in early childhood classrooms and to support educators in counteracting policies and practices that undermine whole child health and optimal learning.

WE OFFER GRANTS IN THE RANGE OF $200 TO $500 PER APPLICATION.

DEADLINE: March 1, 2023
apply here: https://dey.org/mini-grants-to-fund-early-childhood/
Our Leadership
Board of Directors
Nancy Carlsson-Paige
Founder and Senior Advisor

Blakely Bundy
Leadership Board Member

Diane Levin
Founder and Senior Advisor

Geralyn Bywater
Treasurer
 
Kisha Reid
Director of Communication & Outreach

Executive Director
Denisha Jones
National Advisory Board
Erika Christakis
Sherry Cleary
Bill Crain
Doris Pronin Fromberg 
Michelle Gunderson
Ed Klugman 
Susan Linn
Deborah Meier
Ruth Rodriguez-Fay
James St. Clair
Judith Van Hoorn


Founding National Advisory Board 
Constance Kamii
Lilian Katz
Maurice Sykes
Follow DEY for the latest updates
Defending the Early Years, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Donations are tax deductible. Our Tax ID: 82-4308558


Defending the Early Years