This morning, March 4, 2026, DCAEYC was at the John A. Wilson Building for today’s DC Council oversight hearing , showing up for the early childhood education professionals who keep our city running. Represented by our Executive Director, Berna Artis, we advocated for the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund and the sustained public investments needed to stabilize DC’s early learning workforce. The Pay Equity Fund was created to close the wage gap and strengthen retention

Last night, DCAEYC’s Executive Director, Berna Artis , attended Mayor Muriel Bowser’s FY27 Budget Engagement Forum to ensure early childhood education was represented in the room and in the conversations that followed. Budget forums are often packed with competing priorities, tight timelines, and a lot of technical language. They are also where the public can hear, in real time, how decision-makers are thinking about what matters, what is urgent, and what is considered optio

DCAEYC was proud to participate in NAEYC’s Public Policy Forum this week in Washington, DC, alongside early childhood leaders and advocates from across the country. Being in a space dedicated to policy, collaboration, and action was a powerful reminder that our work in the District is connected to a broader national movement to strengthen early learning systems and protect what children, families, and early childhood care professionals need to thrive. Our Executive Director,

DC’s FY27 budget decisions are being shaped right now, and early childhood must be clearly represented in the room. Mayor Muriel Bowser is hosting the FY27 Budget Engagement Forum, and this is a key opportunity for the early childhood community to be present, hear directly about the budget process, and show that sustained investment in children, families, and early childhood care professionals must remain a clear priority in the District. DCAEYC members are encouraged to atte