AzAEYC

AzAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate and work on behalf of young children. Funds raised via Arizona Gives will support AzAEYC to provide early childhood professional development across the state and our work to advocate worthy wages for Arizona's child care providers.

Worthy wages for early childhood educators. Equitable access to quality preschool. Public investments to support our young learners.

Join AzAEYC as we imagine a new kind of early childhood education. Not what we've always done but what could be if we focus on racial and social justice. A gift of any size contributes to our mission to advance equity and support a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession.

+ Celebrate children as capable and competent learners.
+ Elevate the voices of Black, Brown, and Indigenous preschool teachers who have been minoritized
+ Help child care providers polish business skills and build capacity so they can pay teachers a worthy wage.

AzAEYC connects members with continuing education options, scholarships and professional development and networking opportunities statewide. We participate in early childhood advocacy efforts in Arizona as a productive collaborator and partner - pursuing opportunities for innovative projects that fit our mission, including scholarships for students studying early childhood education at colleges and universities.

AzAEYC's signature program is AZToolkit, a web platform where early education providers can gain instant buying power by joining an existing nationwide pool of purchasers. Child care center directors and home providers can save on everything from child care products, office and safety supplies to credit card processing and payroll services.

During these tough times, many Arizona child care providers are at the frontlines caring for children of first responders, emergency medical staff, and essential personnel. AzAEYC's AZToolkit program provides business and financial tools, resources, and savings to help Arizona's childcare providers keep quality early learning services going - and to survive during COVID-19 and be able to re-open to serve all families when the state of emergency ends.

Every dollar makes an impact for early childhood educators across your community! Your donation of any amount helps us support Arizona's childcare providers as they provide essential early learning services on the frontlines.

AzAEYC promotes high professional standards, fair compensation and working conditions within our field. We seek and implement grants and projects that serve all of our members. AzAEYC promotes and supports the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation of Early Childhood and Higher Education Programs. We recognize and celebrate excellence in our profession.


Testimonials

"Teaching young children is one of the most difficult - yet rewarding - professions out there. I joined NAEYC back in 1998 to be part of a group of professionals that felt the same way I did. I wanted to bring Power and a Voice to this overlooked profession. I wanted to connect with professionals that felt the same way I did. My life has taken me through several states. I am a member of AzAEYC to continue that work here in Arizona."
- Kristie Scharer, Instructional Coach

"I joined AzAEYC when I was given a membership as an Arizona PBS scholar. I am so grateful to be apart of an organization that has the best interest of early childhood students and educators at heart."
-Tori Mueller, 2019 AzAEYC Scholarship Awardee

"In Arizona, AzAEYC has been fortunate to have great thought leaders that have help implement many innovations for the profession, such as AZToolkit, that we see today. The challenge now is to maintain the momentum and expand support for all children in all care settings, especially infants and toddlers -through Advocacy and Education!
-Dawn Craft, Early Childhood Specialist, Arizona PBS