NevAEYC Public Policy

The Nevada Association for the Education of Young Children seeks to improve early childhood education in Nevada by providing members and interested persons with the tools and information necessary to promote effective public policy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY

Power Up Your Profession by telling your policy makers what Nevada needs to make quality early learning experiences more accessible in Nevada! Use the resources below to see our policy priorities, learn about how to advocate, and opportunities to join us.

Find your Federal Representative: http://nv.gov/government/federal/ 

Find your State Representative: http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/

Early Education and Care Imperatives for Nevada –

2025-2026 Public Policy Agenda

NevAEYC’s Public Policy Committee has worked with community partners such as Children’s Advocacy Alliance to develop our Public Policy Imperatives for the 2025 Legislative session. These imperatives are designed to both improve Early Childhood Education for all children in Nevada and support the Early Childhood workforce, recognizing their invaluable service and commitment to the development of young children across the state of Nevada.

2025-2026 NevAEYC Imperatives

• 1: Increase Child Care and Development Fund Contribution to support workforce compensation and retention within Early Childhood Education
• 2: Codify preschool funding to ensure more reliable program funding in the long term and build a pathway to universal pre-K
• 3: Establish the Office of Early Childhood Systems to align and strengthen family & child support services
• 4: Expand Home-Based Child Care providers by limiting HOA’s ability to restrict home-based child care services

Track 2025 ECE Bills Here! 2025 Legislative Bill Tracker – Children’s Advocacy Alliance of Nevada

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY

It is important that all Nevadans become mindful of the financial and social impact of NOT caring for our youngest citizens and their families. Investments in quality early care and education results in families with a higher quality of life and greater contribution to their communities, resulting in better paying jobs, higher tax contributions, and less dependence on public support throughout their entire lives. We want our legislators to know that they must act to change this dismal situation so that families can work and contribute to the well-being of our State economy.

Do you want to brush up on your knowledge of how a bill becomes a law? Watch School House Rocks I’m Just a Bill for fun and quick refresher!

We also have several training videos to help you learn how to advocate for legislation in Nevada. Learn how to Share Your Opinion Online, Testify, and Track Bills!

Child Care Aware of America Symposium May 4-7, 2025

The Child Care Aware of America’s 2025 Symposium: Child Care Strong: From Problems to Progress focuses on bringing national, state, and local child care leaders, advocates, and changemakers together to sharpen their skills and work together to make high-quality, affordable, childcare available to all children.

Children’s Week at the Legislature! March 10-13, 2025

The NevAEYC Public Policy Committee is continuing an awareness campaign to inform our legislators of the importance of funding programs for children. Agencies and organizations in both the public and private sectors from across the state joined together virtually to show support for Nevada’s families and improve our communities at the Nevada State Legislature during children’s week. Each day is focused on a separate issue.

Visit the Children’s Week Webpage to see recording and resources from this year’s event: nic.unlv.edu/childrens-week/

2025 NAEYC Public Policy Forum

  NAEYC’s Public Policy Forum will be held from Sunday, February 23 – Tuesday, February 25 in Washington, DC. NevAEYC leadership will attend the Public Policy Forum to represent early childhood educators in Nevada in discussions of early childhood policy nationwide and support initiatives designed to promote high quality education for all young children and educators in the state of Nevada and the rest of the country.

Brain Research Video Compilation

Think Fast. They Do. Early Childhood Brain Development.
AZ First Things First (:34)

BRAIN POWER: From Neurons to Networks
Tiffany Shlain & The Moxie Institute Films (10:46)

The Science of Early Childhood Development
Harvard Education (3:57)

PBS The Secret Life of the Brain – The Baby’s Brain (mini).wmv
David Grubin Production (8:07)

Early childhood Educators: Building Brains Together
Vicki Vanzee (7:26)

NevAEYC Public Policy Resources

• • Nevada Legislature: Research legislative action and find out who your representatives are!
  • Advocacy 101 for Early Childhood Care & Education: great tips from the Child Care Resource & Referral department with the Children’s Cabinet
  • The Economic Impact of Early Care and Education in Nevada

Video Resources

Change the First Five Years and You Change Everything!

Please take five minutes to view this powerful video on the importance of children’s first five years.

Pre-K Now: What Children Learn in Pre-K

The video, “What Children Learn in Pre-K”, tells the stories of five young children who had an opportunity that is still unavailable to millions of children in the U.S.: the opportunity to attend a high-quality pre-kindergarten program. We were privileged to follow Erika, Nataya, Cesar, William, and Gillian-as well as their classmates, family members, and teachers-for a full school year to see how quality pre-k helps all children prepare for success in school and in life, and through the short video below we want to share what we witnessed.

Sign up for our e-mail list to receive updates and action alerts on important early childhood policy issues.

Public Policy Links

Child Care Aware of America’s Action and Information Center – Child Care Aware of America leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, undertakes research, and advocates for child care policies that improves the lives of children and families. The Action and Information Center has the latest issue campaigns to strengthen child care.

Children’s Advocacy Alliance– The Children’s Advocacy Alliance (CAA) is a community-based nonprofit organization that mobilizes people, resources and reason to ensure every child has a chance to thrive and to make Nevada a better place to live and raise a family. CAA advocates for the well-being of Nevada’s Children. We bring people together to build consensus around priorities and to leverage our collective strength toward real changes in policy and practice. Our organization collects, analyzes and shares research and information with people who make decisions impacting Nevada’s children and families. We believe in building public will through education, outreach, and advocacy to solve expansive and chronic problems facing kids and families.

CLASP – A national non-profit organization which seeks to improve the economic security of low-income families with children. CLASP develops and advocates for federal, state and local policies to strengthen families and create pathways to education and work.

NAEYC Children’s Champions – Keep updated on the lasted news from Congress and the Administration that impacts young children and families. Join Children’s Champions to be included on e-mail list and be kept up-to-date. This site also includes information from NAEYC on federal policies and legislation, state legislative trends and policies, national reports and research, critical issues, position statements and links to national early childhood organizations.

Stay keen on federal developments in the realm of early childhood education by checking up on Updates & Alerts from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

National Women’s Law Center, Child Care & Early Learning Issues – The Center’s research, analysis, and advocacy take place when legislatures are enacting or amending laws, the executive branch and its agencies are writing regulations or otherwise enforcing laws and policies, and the courts are reviewing actions. The Center also conducts campaigns and public awareness efforts to educate and mobilize the public to press for policy changes to improve women’s lives.

Nevada Institute for Children’s Research & Policy – The Nevada Institute for Children’s Research and Policy (NICRP) is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing children’s issues in Nevada. NICRP’s mission is to conduct academic and community-based research that will guide the development of policies, programs and services which will enhance the health and well-being of Nevada’s children.

Nevada State Home Page – Provides information on state departments, agencies, commissions, regulatory agencies and the Governor.

Nevada State Legislature – Provides information on past and current legislative sessions, contact information for legislators, the NRS and NAC, as well as information on the legislative process and history.

NV Women’s Lobby – The Nevada Women’s Lobby (NWL) is a statewide non-partisan coalition of organizations, women and men presenting a strong voice on issues affecting women and families. A primary issue of the NWL is education.