Governor signs proclamation for the Week of the Young Child®
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children (Iowa AEYC) wraps up this year’s (April 1-7, 2023) Week of the Young Child® (WOYC). As part of the National WOYC celebration, Iowa honors young children and all those who make a difference in children’s lives.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed the Proclamation naming April 1-7, 2023 as Iowa’s WOYC as did several Iowa Mayors recognizing the vital work performed by early care and education professionals and highlighting the need for high-quality early care and education for all children and families in Iowa.
WOYC is an annual event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC first established WOYC in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later in life. The purpose of WOYC is to focus public attention on the importance of high-quality early care and education and the critical role early childhood educators play in a child’s development and learning. It’s also a time to recognize the policies that bring quality early care and education experiences to young children.
“With a predicted carryover for fiscal year 2023 of more than $107,000,000 in Child Care Development Block grant funds, funds that are to be spent on programs and policies that best suit the needs of children and parents within the state, Iowa is uniquely positioned to solve issues around quality, affordable, accessible, early care and education and the time is now. We must support our early care and education professionals so that they can earn a competitive wage while also making high-quality care and education affordable for parents. Our youngest Iowans deserve the best start!”
– Jillian Herink, Executive Director of Iowa AEYC
Iowa AEYC has nearly 1,000 members across the state and represents an early care and education workforce working with children 0-8 years old.
Iowa AEYC is an affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early care and education for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. NAEYC advances a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and supports all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
