Advocacy in early childhood education can feel daunting, especially when thinking about influencing state and national policy. However, as educators, you’re already practicing advocacy in your everyday work—whether it's supporting children, communicating with families, or championing resources within your community. By leveraging the expertise and passion you already bring to the table, you can make a powerful impact at all levels of advocacy, and together, we can create a stronger, more supportive environment for our youngest learners. So, take a deep breath, and let’s talk about advocacy!

How to Build Your Advocacy Skills

• Use NAEYC’s federal policy agenda. Learn about NAEYC’s priorities and our recommendations to the 119th Congress about investing in child care, early learning, and the early childhood education workforce. 
• Get to know the policy and decision-making landscape. Gather information on policies that affect your practice and the communities you serve.
  • Learn about the federal legislative process, or how a bill becomes a law.
  • Build public policy knowledge by learning about topics like budget and appropriations, family tax strategies, and more.
  • Explore the key congressional committees, caucuses, and agencies at the federal level.
• Find your allies, and join a network. Connect with others who are already involved in early childhood policy change, and join their advocacy efforts. A good place to start is with your NAEYC Affiliate. Find out if it has a state policy agenda, join its public policy committee, and check to see if it offers cohorts or fellowships designed to build advocacy skills.
• Connect with your elected officials and key decision makers on issues that impact you and your work. Attend city council meetings, school board meetings, briefings, and town halls to meet these leaders, and follow them on social media to learn their views on issues you care about.
  • Learn who are your elected officials in Congress and how you can contact them.
  • Set up a meeting with policymakers after the meeting to continue cultivating the relationship.
  • Invite your elected officials to visit high-quality early childhood programs, so they can see firsthand the value of early learning.

Additional Resources

We are here to support you! Stay engaged with NAEYC to learn about the resources, opportunities, and support that we offer advocates at all levels across all states and communities. Sign up for trainings or events that allow you to practice advocacy skills or that explain policy topics to help build your knowledge. And check out some of the additional resources and links below to advance #AdvocacyInAction. 
 

• Read NAEYC’s Federal Policy Agenda for the 119th Congress.
• Get involved with your NAEYC Affiliate.
• Check out NAEYC's workforce surveys, and use them to drill deeply into specific topics affecting the early childhood education field.
• Invite policymakers to visit your program.
• Set up a meeting with your policymakers. 
• Take action when celebrating Week of the Young Child.
• Read the recap of this year’s Public Policy Forum, and plan to join us next year! 
• Plan to attend the 2025 NAEYC Annual Conference later this year in Orlando, Florida.