The October 6 public comment deadline for proposed changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards is approaching, and early childhood education organizations across the country are continuing to release information and resources to help professionals, families, advocates, and communities understand the proposal and participate in the federal rulemaking process. The proposal is not a final rule. Current Head Start Program Performance Standards remain in effect, and th

Head Start reaches far beyond what happens in a classroom. Its federal standards help shape the health, developmental, educational, and family supports available to children and families across the country, creating a framework that connects early learning with services designed to respond to the broader needs of children and their families. That framework is now under review. On August 7, 2026, the Administration for Children and Families released a Notice of Proposed Rulema

DCAEYC members have the opportunity to be considered for scholarships to attend the 2026 NAEYC Annual Conference, one of the largest national gatherings for early childhood education professionals. This year, two DCAEYC members will be selected to receive scholarships to attend the conference. The NAEYC Annual Conference brings together early childhood education professionals, leaders, researchers, advocates, and organizations from across the country for professional learning

On September 10, DCAEYC members came together for a conversation that placed an important question at the center of early childhood education: What changes when we focus not only on a child’s behavior, but also on the knowledge, skills, and support available to the adults in the room? Hosted in partnership with Georgetown University’s Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities, the virtual session, Why the Child Is Not the Problem: Building Adult Capacity to Respon

This December, Washington, DC will welcome early childhood education professionals from across the country for the 2026 NAEYC Annual Conference, and DCAEYC is proud to welcome the national early childhood community to our city. Taking place December 5 through 8, 2026, the conference will bring together educators, leaders, advocates, researchers, students, and other professionals for four days of learning, professional connection, and engagement around the issues shaping early