Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children

Background Statement

Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children (COAEYC) is the Colorado affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC is a leading national professional membership organization known for the creation of Developmentally Appropriate Practice, the standard of quality in early childhood care and education.

Since 1968, COAEYC has been a valuable resource to early childhood professionals across Colorado. As a professional membership organization, COAEYC provides affordable, accessible professional development to the early childhood field. We partner with a number of early childhood organizations throughout Colorado to advocate for the early childhood workforce and the well being of children and families in Colorado and across the United States.

At COAEYC, our goal is to advance the early childhood profession. We envision a world where early childhood educators are valued and highly compensated, and where children have equitable access to quality learning and care programs. We want all professionals and providers -- from school districts to home-based programs, from metro Denver to the rural corners of our great state -- to feel included, heard, and valued.

We believe that curiosity invites broad, multi-dimensional, and diverse viewpoints that advance our mission. We also believe that in order for the early childhood field to be inclusive and high-performing, we must recognize the uniqueness of and invest in groups and individuals.

The COAEYC Board of Directors is comprised of nine member elected volunteer members-at-large from the early childhood field across the state of Colorado.