Children’s Village Joins PA Educators to Advocate for Early Childhood Education at NAEYC Policy Forum

Advocating for the Future: Strengthening Support for Early Childhood Education in PA and Beyond

Representing Children’s Village, Mary Graham (Executive Director), Lauren Williams (Early Childhood Coordinator), Milly Diaz (Lead Toddler Teacher), and Crystal Hand (Lead School Age Teacher) took part in this vital advocacy effort, lending their voices to the growing national movement to ensure every child has access to high-quality early learning.

In February Children’s Village staff joined nearly 30 early childhood care and education professionals from Pennsylvania in Washington, D.C. for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Public Policy Forum.

Together, they advocated for stronger federal funding for early learning programs and met with Pennsylvania legislators to emphasize the urgent need for investment in child care and early education.

As Congress debates the federal budget, early childhood education is at risk of significant funding cuts, threatening the quality and availability of child care programs nationwide. With early learning funding facing reductions, staff shortages, and policy changes that could affect child care centers, continued advocacy is more important than ever.

Children’s Village remains committed to advocating for strong public investments in early learning and ensuring child care programs remain safe and accessible for all families. We encourage our community to take action by reaching out to legislators and supporting policies that protect early childhood education.