January 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
DEY Takes a Look Back at 2022 and
a Preview of What’s in Store for 2023
DEY Takes a Look Back at 2022 and a Preview of What's in ...

Sneak Peak 2023 and Beyond Up Next: DEY Advocacy Campaign Save...

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The DEY Podcast With Kisha Reid EP: 017

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

This month, Kisha Reid interviews Sylvan Taylor.

Check out Sylvan's guest blog to learn more about her journey
Big Kids Play Too

I'm Sylvan Taylor, the Schoolwide Enrichment Teacher at The Downtown School, a public pre-K-8th school in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We celebrated our 30th year of innovative, child-centered education last year, and I'm always...

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DEY Advocacy Campaigns

High-quality early childhood education and care must be based on principles of child development. The research on how young children develop makes it clear that they need ample time to play, inquire, build, create, sing, move, talk, and pursue...

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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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MINI GRANT RECIPIENT HIGHLIGHT
Integrating Play in the Early Years Education Centers in ...

With their DEY Mini Grant, Mercy Youth Initiative hosted a community-wide event that brought together a total of 36 early years educators, 21 civic leaders and 5 ward representative with a view to address the gaps hindering delivery of quality...

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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