Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (deaeyc)
The mission of the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (deaeyc) is to promote national standards for early care and education as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); to provide and support opportunities for professional development; to advocate for children, families, and early care and education professionals; and to build community awareness and support for the early care and education profession.
Every year, deaeyc advocates for policy changes, necessary legislation, and funding increases for the betterment of early education. Last year, deaeyc, in partnership with other organizations, led efforts to increase funding and eligibility for the Purchase of Care (POC) subsidy program and to increase funding for the Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP).
Advocacy Day 2024
Success! The FY25 State budget includes:
$10.4 million increase to POC and a 15% increase to the program’s eligibility requirements.
This funding gives more back to child care providers to help cover the cost of care AND allows more families to participate in the program.
ECAP received a $3.4 million increase, allowing 200 more children to be served!
Without access to affordable child care, many families struggle. In a recent Parent Survey, more than half of the respondents said that if child care was more accessible and affordable they would either:
increase their work hours,
look for a job, OR
go back to school.
More funding to programs like POC and ECAP, benefits young children, families, small businesses (child care programs), and employers.
Deaeyc’s advocacy efforts can reshape the community. Help us continue making the differences we’ve accomplished by donating today.
Wait! That’s not all!
Deaeyc’s also opened a Resource Center devoted to early learning, which includes:
a lending library and spaces where educators (and families!) can use and/or borrow materials, get access to state (and national!) organizations devoted to early learning, while connecting with others.
more than 300 titles: children’s books devoted to inclusion, diversity, social emotional learning, STEAM, and a variety of teacher resources.
activity bins complete with lesson plans and all the materials needed for implementation.
deaeyc's Resource Center
Through the Resource Center, one of deaeyc’s goals is to host workshops and trainings for families, with topics such as:
discipline styles,
breast/bottle weaning,
sleep training,
brain development, etc.
Starting off, deaeyc has been offering FREE CPR/First Aid for families and caregivers across the state, and so far, more than 30 families/ caregivers have received lifesaving training in New Castle County with more training scheduled throughout the state in 2025.
CPR/First Aid, Rt. 9 Library - Wilmington, DE
You can be a part of the difference we are making! Donate today and know that your investment in deaeyc is one that the entire community benefits from.
About Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (deaeyc)
Mission: The mission of the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (deaeyc) is to promote national standards for early care and education as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); to provide and support opportunities for professional development; to advocate for children, families, and early care and education professionals; and to build community awareness and support for the early care and education profession.
At the heart of everything we do are the children. The experiences they have during the first eight years of life are determinants for success and development through adolescence and into adulthood. Giving children a positive and healthy start, benefits growth and development and a lifetime of practices that all stem back to early childhood.
Deaeyc’s work focuses on supporting the early learning experience, which includes, but is not limited to, recruiting new educators into the field, advocating for more state and federal funding for early learning facilities, providing training to educators to meet the annual licensing requirements, as well as seeking new ways to support the industry and improve early learning for the children and the workforce.
The Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (deaeyc, pronounced “day-see”) is an affiliate of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the leading membership association for those working with and on behalf of children from birth to age eight. Founded in 1969, deaeyc serves and acts on behalf of the needs, rights, and well-being of all young children and their families in Delaware.
