Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) conducts and communicates research that supports high-quality and effective early education for all young children (NIEER, 2015a). The research help support and enhance education in young children’s physical, cognitive, and social development, which includes the success in school years later (NIEER, 2015a). NIEER offers independent, research-based advice and assistance to policymakers and educators by monitoring and analyze model legislation, standards, regulations, and policies to increase the access to high-quality early childhood programs (NIEER, 2015a). I found this national organization appealing because I want to ensure I offer a high-quality and effective early childhood program for all young children with and without disabilities to reach their full potential. As an early childhood educator, I want to be aware of the research and communication strategies being used to fill in the gaps in the knowledge and to apply scientific knowledge to early education policy (NIEER, 2015a). Early education policies help support and guide early childhood professionals to offer high-quality, effective, and research-based knowledge and policy to maintain the values and benefits of any early childhood program in an ever-changing community (NIEER, 2015a).  

They have multiple positions in two major areas in their belief of research and analysis: Assistant Research Professor and Data Collectors (NIEER, 2015b). I am drawn to the data collectors position, a position to train administer standard preschool evaluation measures (child assessment and classroom observation instruments) (NIEER, 2015b). It will help support my knowledge and understanding on child assessments and classroom observation instruments that would be the best for early childhood programs to use within the early childhood field for all programs. According to NIEER (2015b), the requirements for this position are:

“Applicants should be graduate students, have a BA or be upperclassman undergraduate students with a focus on child development, early childhood, psychology or related field. Knowledgeable about child development and developmentally appropriate early childhood teaching practices (e.g. Teacher) preferred. Experience in classroom settings and/or working with children highly preferred. Must be available to work 2-3x per week during data collection period; days are flexible. Must be available to attend intensive, full-day trainings that vary between 2 days and a full week. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate an excellent academic record (GPA should be 3.0 or better). Must have reliable transportation. Spanish speakers needed!”

NIEER. (2015a). Vision. Retrieved from http://www.nieer.org/about/vision.

NIEER. (2015b). Job Opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.nieer.org/about-nieer/job-opportunities.

The Children’s Defense Fund is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and have successful passage to adulthood with the support from caring families and communities (CDF, 2015a). The institute provides a strong, effective, and independent voice for all young children with and without disabilities who cannot speak for themselves (CDF, 2015a). The Children’s Defense Fund educates the nation on the needs of children and encourages preventive investments to assure all young children reach they are full potential (CDF, 2015a). This national organization appealed to me because they want all young children to have a healthy, fair, safe, moral, and head start in their education to become successful and develop and learn in their own way through supportive and understanding environments to achieve their full potential to be an active citizen in the world. I want all young children to have access to high-quality education in their community and to have the support they need to achieve development growth and learning in different environments that support a child’s understanding of the world.

Currently, the Children’s Defense Fund only has 3 open positions, one of them I am interested in, Foundation and Corporate Partnerships Officer. This position is in the development department in the National Office of the Children’s Defense Fund. The measurements for the success of this position includes a proposal pipeline activity, grant and partnership rates, total value of grants and partnerships, and monitoring activities and accurate reporting (CDF, 2015b). According to CDF (2015b), the knowledge and skills required for this position are:

“Demonstrated passion for CDF’s mission; Demonstrated knowledge of and skills in writing succinctly with excellent grammar, spelling and proof-reading; A minimum of three years past grant-writing and corporate/foundation relations experience; A demonstrated understanding of basic nonprofit marketing and fundraising, and of marketing and communications needs of foundation and, separately, of corporate partners; A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to CDF’s work; advance degree preferred; Demonstrated ability to be a willing, able and active learner; willingness to be taught and trained in professional skills, in workplace protocols and in topics and issues specifically relevant to CDF’s mission and work; Demonstrated skills in organizing multiple projects and priorities.”

Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). (2015a). Our mission. Retrieved from http://www.childrensdefense.org/about/.

Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). (2015b). Careers. Retrieved from http://www.childrensdefense.org/about/careers/?referrer=http://www.childrensdefense.org/about/.

The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is a non-profit membership association (NAFCC, n.d.). This organization dedicates themselves to promote quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care within the early childhood education field (NAFCC, n.d.). According to NAFCC (n.d.), the goals for the association are:

“To strengthen state and local associations as the primary support system for individual family child care providers. To promote a professional accreditation program which recognizes and encourages quality care for children. To represent professional family child care providers by advocating for their needs and collaborating with other organizations. To promote the diversity of the family child care profession through training, state and local associations, public education, and Board Membership.”

This organization appealed to me because, within the Early Head Start, there are Family Child Care Facilities that partnership with center-based programs to ensure the quality of early childhood education to all children. These early childhood educators provide a warm and loving, home-like environment to all young children and offer high-quality and effective early childhood education to the children and families (NAFCC, n.d.). Family Child Care is a form of high-quality of education programs provided to young children and their families to help and support all children to reach their full potential.

I did not find any information about job opportunities in this association.

NAFCC. (n.d.). National Association for Family Child Care. Retrieved from http://www.nafcc.org/.