NAEYC's Anti-Discrimination Position Statement - Revised July 2009

NAEYCs first commitment is to the rights and interests of all children. In that regard, NAEYC believes that individuals in the early childhood field should be hired, employed, promoted, and if necessary, terminated based solely on their competence and qualifications to perform their designated duties, and not on the basis of their gender, race, color, national origin, religious beliefs, age, marital status/family structure (including same sex unions or domestic partnerships), disability, sexual orientation, or any basis prohibited by law.

Anti-Discrimination Policy (1988; 1994)

At the March 1994 Governing Board meeting, the Board approved the following Antidiscrimination Policy:

NAEYC’s first commitment is to the rights and interests of all children. In that regard, NAEYC believes that individuals in the early childhood field should be hired, employed, promoted, and if necessary, terminated based solely on their competence and qualifications to perform their designated duties, and not on the basis of their gender, race, national origin, religious beliefs, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

Statement about Proposition 187 & NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct (1994)

The NAEYC Governing Board approved the following resolution in response to Proposition 187 that was approved by California voters in the November 1994 elections:

NAEYC opposes any aspect of Proposition 187 that would require those who work with children and families to act in opposition to NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct. Similar initiatives—that would cause educators, doctors and nurses to deny services to children or to report undocumented individuals—are being considered in other states. NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct can serve as a helpful resource for debate about such proposals.