Public Policy at NAEYC: An Orientation Module

NAEYC Public Policy and Affiliate Relations Departments

January 2010

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Introduction In 2008, the NAEYC Affiliate Council approved the development of

Affiliate Orientation Modules. The purpose of the orientation modules is to provide affiliate leadership and staff with timely and relevant information related to all areas of accountability as a recognized NAEYC Affiliate.

Each orientation module is delivered via a live webinar and conference call format. PowerPoints are archived on the Affiliate Resource page for greater accessibility by the Affiiate community. We encourage you to incorporate these orientation modules into your local or state board orientation sessions.

In many instances, additional information can be found in the notes section of the PowerPoint. For questions, comments or technical support please contact Matt Seiler, Affiliate Relations Coordinator, at Mseiler@naeyc.org or by phone at 800-424-2460 ext. 8821. Thank you for your leadership in NAEYC!

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Affiliates and the Role of Public Policy

Charter Agreement: Local and State Affiliate enjoy a legal and fiscal relationship with NAEYC.

All Local and State Affiliates submit an annual online Roles and Functions report

Programs and Services contain specific criteria regarding Public Policy

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Affiliates and the Role of Public Policy

The criteria related to Policy in the Roles and Functions report currently includes: Keep records of the advocacy and lobbying

activity as well as the related financial expenses by the affiliate each year

The affiliate has a public policy committee A process exists to disseminate public policy

updates and action alerts to membership All board members are registered with

Children’s Champions

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Affiliates and the Role of Public Policy

The Affiliate Council is a recognized governance body within NAEYC, with each state affiliate electing or appointing a representative.

The Affiliate Council submits an Annual Report to the NAEYC Governing Board

The Affiliate Council appointed a Criteria Review Task Force in 2008

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Affiliates and the Role of Public Policy

Emerging criteria recently approved (June 2009) by the Affiliate Council includes: Create an emerging criteria category for future

Roles and Functions reports.  Develop and support an emerging criterion

requiring State Affiliates to develop and approve a member-vetted and board approved Public Policy Agenda.

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Affiliates and the Role of Public Policy

This presentation serves as a resource to strengthen the affiliate by providing clarity as they continue to understand and develop their role as a public policy advocate.

Allow us to introduce our colleagues from the NAEYC Public Policy Department

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Public Policy at NAEYC

Sarah LeMoine, Director, Early Childhood Workforce Systems Initiative

Davida McDonald, Director, State Policy

Adele Robinson, Associate Executive Director, Public Policy

Christina Wysong, Program Associate

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Public Policy Advocacy

Overarching Goals of NAEYC’s Public Policy Efforts Creating a well-financed, high quality system of early

childhood education birth through age 8 across all settings

Helping all members become effective advocates, which means they: Have awareness of; Are knowledgeable about; Are able to competently discuss and debate; and Have the capacity to act in ways that influence decisions on public

policy at all levels (national, state and local) aligned with Association goals.

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Foundation for our Policy Work

Issue-driven, nonpartisan

National, state, local relationships and two-way support

NAEYC Public Policy Program NAEYC Position Statements NAEYC standards for program accreditation

and for teacher preparation Research in the field

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NAEYC Public Policy Resources

Technical assistance (TA) on policy issues to affiliates, policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders

TA and support to affiliates on public policy capacity

Presentations at national and state conferences and meetings on variety of topics

Website pages dedicated to public policy developments, tools, and links

Coalitions and alliances working on shared public policy objectives at national and/or state levels

Listserv and outreach to new affiliate policy leaders

Webinars and other information sharing mechanisms

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State Policy Davida McDonald

Researching and tracking state and national policy trends

Providing TA to affiliates, advocates and policymakers

Working with affiliates to build public policy advocacy capacity

Representing NAEYC in coalitions, at meetings and conferences

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State Public Policy Resources

Online State Trends

http://www.naeyc.org/policy/statetrends

QRIS Initiative

Early Childhood Workforce Systems Initiative

http://www.naeyc.org/policy/ecwsi

Effective Advocacy

http://www.naeyc.org/policy/advocacy

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State Public Policy Resources

Technical Assistance Research Legislative analysis QRIS Affiliate public policy capacity (affiliate guides,

effective advocacy, roles and responsibilities, running a successful public policy committee, outreach to new public policy chairs)

Policy Leaders ListServ

State Public Policy Leaders ListServ

Communication tool between NAEYC and affiliates and between affiliates

Members of ListServ Current AEYC staff and select AEYC Board members Key AEYC affiliate leaders who communicate public

policy information to members Current NAEYC Governing Board members Key NAEYC staff Local AEYC public policy chairs and other board

members can be added at the discretion of the state public policy chair

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NAEYC Affiliate Guides

Creating a Public Policy Agenda

State Affiliate Public Policy Chairs

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EC Workforce Systems Initiative Sarah LeMoine, Christina Wysong

Assists states in developing, enhancing, and implementing policies for an integrated early childhood professional development (PD) system

Sponsored by the Birth to Five Policy Alliance and the McCormick Foundation, with previous support from Cornerstones for Kids

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Work Frame: State Policy Blueprint

Workforce Designs: A Policy Blueprint for State Early Childhood Professional Development Systems Recommended state policies for integrated PD

system building 6 essential policy areas 4 policy-making principles

What should exist: future

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Blueprint Policy Areas & Principles

Essential Policy Areas Professional Standards Career Pathways Articulation Advisory Structure Data Financing

Policy-Making Principles Integration Quality Assurance Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Compensation Parity

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ECWSI Activities & Resources

Collaborative consultation Peer-to-peer exchanges Webinars Annual state leadership team summit State TA

National and internal (NAEYC) partnerships and collaboration

www.naeyc.org/policy/ecwsi Online state policy database Blueprint, summary, planning guide and additional

tools

Federal Policy Adele Robinson, Christina Wysong

Direct advocacy with Congress and the Administration – individually and with coalitions Recommendations: NAEYC’s Call to Action,

other letters and comments Updates and grassroots mobilization through

Children’s Champions Annual NAEYC Public Policy Forum for

members

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Lobbying vs. Political Activity

Lobbying – 501©(3) can lobby, with limit on how much they spend and only nonpartisan activities Make sure filing appropriate forms

Political activity – 501©(3), cannot endorse/oppose a candidate or give resources (cash or in-kind) to any candidate for elected office Can hold nonpartisan candidate forums and

conduct nonpartisan voter registration See website for more information; always check

state laws with an attorney

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Contact Information

Sarah LeMoineDirector, ECWSIslemoine@naeyc.orgX 8841; (202) 350-8841

Davida McDonaldDirector, State Policydmcdonald@naeyc.orgx 8839; (202) 350-8839

NAEYC central office: (800) 424-2460

Adele RobinsonAssoc. Exec. Director, Public Policyarobinson@naeyc.orgX 8837; (202) 350-8837

Christina WysongProgram Associatecwysong@naeyc.orgx 8840; (202) 350-8840

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Contact Information

Gwen SimmonsDirector, Affiliate Relationsgsimmons@naeyc.orgX8856; (202) 350-8856

NAEYC central office: (800) 424-2460

Matt SeilerAffiliate Relations Coordinatormseiler@naeyc.orgX8821; (202) 350-8821

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State and local board members are part of the NAEYC extended family. You are important ambassadors for NAEYC

and our work.