Association for Early Learning Leaders: Mission and Vision

In Parts 1 and 2 of our blog series featuring the Association for Early Learning Leaders, we explored the path to accreditation as well as membership benefits for AELL. In the following post, we take a closer look at the AELL mission and vision, including how AELL is helping to reshape perspectives and honoring the professionalism of the Early Childhood Education field by reminding us that “Words Matter.” Keep reading to learn more. 

The Association for Early Learning Leaders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to excellence by promoting leadership development and enhancing program quality through the National Accreditation Commission’s standards. Since 1984, AELL has been serving childcare owners, directors, and administrators.  

The mission of the Association for Early Learning Leaders is to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities of early care owners, directors, emerging leaders, and other early learning professionals to ensure quality child care programs for young children. 

Here are the primary purposes of AELL:

• Networking and collaboration – Promote and create meaningful collaborative connections among members, other professionals, and national early childhood organizations. 
• Training and education – Provide professional development opportunities to strengthen the leadership skills of administrators and enhance the quality of early learning programs. 
• Program quality and accreditation – Promote quality improvements to achieve and recognize excellence in early care and education programs 
• Membership and resources – Provide access to a variety of quality professional resources impacting the early childhood field 

AELL achieves these purposes by providing quality services, including professional membership, program accreditation, an annual national conference, and unique professional development and training opportunities designed specifically for individuals who lead early care and education programs. 

The vision of the Association for Early Learning Leaders is to uphold the professionalism, dignity, and significance of the Early Childhood Education field with its “Words Matter” campaign, acknowledging that we do not run daycares and are not daycare workers or babysitters, but rather Early Educators bring the highest quality educational opportunities and care to young children. 

Here are just a few reasons why AELL is championing a shift in terminology and changing how society views early childhood programs:

1. Research-Supported Need for Early Education – Research overwhelmingly tells us that establishing educational foundations in our youngest learners plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s development and future success. 
2. Educational Emphasis – The term “daycare” may imply a focus solely on supervision and custodial care rather than education. Using terms like “early childhood education” and “early learning” emphasizes the educational component of the services provided, highlighting the critical importance of learning and development for young children. 
3. Professional recognition – Professionals in the field of early childhood education prefer terms that reflect the educational nature of their work. Using these references helps acknowledge and affirm their critical role in a child’s development. 
4. Stigma – The term “daycare” carries a stigma that downplays the significance of the work done by educators in these settings. This term often inhibits our ability to attract quality talent to fill vacancies in early education classrooms. 

In sum, AELL believes and teaches that care is not something we do in addition to or instead of education. Care is education. This is the real story of who early educators are and what they do. All of us have a part to play in changing the “daycare” narrative and upholding the value of Early Childhood Education. 

To learn more about AELL’s Words Matter campaign, click here. 

To make a tax-deductible donation to support the mission and vision of the Association for Early Learning Leaders, click here. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. 

Honest Buck partners with Early Learning professionals by offering a variety of expert accounting services, from audits to tax preparation. Schedule a free consultation with us to learn how we can help you build a strong financial foundation for your childcare business. Contact us today.