Open Doors
Connecting Early Childhood Educators Across DC
DCAEYC is pleased to introduce DCAEYC Open Doors, a new initiative designed to bring early childhood education professionals together through classroom visits, shared experiences, and opportunities to learn from one another.
Across Washington, DC, early childhood educators bring different perspectives, experiences, and approaches to their work. DCAEYC Open Doors creates an opportunity for educators to visit other early learning programs, explore different classroom environments, exchange ideas with colleagues, and gain practical insights that can support their own teaching practices.
The initiative also recognizes the valuable work already taking place in early learning classrooms throughout the District. Rather than relying on formal presentations or specially prepared activities, participating programs will welcome fellow educators into their everyday learning environments. These visits are intended to encourage meaningful conversations, highlight effective educational practices, and provide opportunities for professional learning through direct observation and peer exchange.
DCAEYC is inviting NAEYC-accredited early childhood education programs across DC to participate as hosts. We encourage programs serving infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children, including family-based early learning settings, to participate. Programs representing different educational approaches and teaching philosophies are especially welcome, allowing visiting educators to experience the diversity of practices within DC's early childhood education community.
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Hosting a visit does not require additional presentations, materials, or changes to existing classroom arrangements. DCAEYC will work directly with participating programs to coordinate registration, communications, scheduling, and other logistical details. Visit times and group sizes will be determined in collaboration with each host to ensure that participation is manageable and respects the program's daily operations.
Through DCAEYC Open Doors, we hope to encourage stronger professional relationships, recognize the expertise of educators throughout the District, and expand opportunities for collaboration within DC's early childhood education community.
We invite eligible programs interested in hosting a visit to complete our brief interest form. A DCAEYC representative will follow up to discuss participation and next steps.