VAAEYC serves Virginia early childhood educators with community, professional development support, connections, and advocacy.


When you join VAAEYC, you join a vibrant community of early childhood educators and advocates that support each other, learn from each other, and grow together.

VAAEYC Connections – Town Hall Meetings

Once a month VAAEYC will be hosting a Town Hall style connection meeting for members to connect with VAAEYC leadership to let us know what is on your mind, to ask questions, to ask for resources, and more. Occasional special guests will be invited to answer questions. Bring any and all questions related to Early Childhood Education, and VAAEYC will help connect you to the answers!

All discussions will be moderated so that the conversations can be productive.

This discussion is geared towards classroom educators and how VAAEYC can support you.

Thursday, November 30 @ 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
LINK HERE

Nominations are now open for the Annual VAAEYC Awards!

These awards will be presented at the 2024 Annual Conference and there are two we are seeking nominations for:

Outstanding Service to Young Children

This recipient is selected by the VAAEYC Board and is given to someone who:

  • Has made a significant contribution to the education and development of young children. A considerable part of this service must be made in Virginia.
  • Has participated in a wide variety of fields of service to young children in the state.
  • Is not currently a VAAEYC Board member.

Excellence in Media Relations and Communications

This recipient is selected by the Membership and Communications Circle and is given to someone who:

Uses their platform to create and disseminate information regarding the value and importance of early childhood education, children, families, and care providers in Virginia.

Make your nominations here!

DAP Support Statement

The Northern Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (NVAEYC) and Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (VAAEYC), proudly support NAEYC and the science, research and theories contained in the 4th edition of the DAP guide. Recently this guide has come under attack by elected officials in other states, being used as a political maneuver focusing on several statements within the book, taking them out of context for their true meaning. These actions not only alarm and sadden early childhood educators in our commonwealth but are troubling that something so vital to early childhood education could be stripped away so quickly by people who do not fully comprehend nor understand the importance of this guide. As professionals who reside within the Commonwealth of Virginia that work with, and for young children, we stand behind NAEYC and the principles and foundations in the DAP guide, all supported by years of research and science.

Virginia’s new Unified Measurement and Improvement System (VQB5)

VQB5 is a measurement and improvement system that focuses on the quality of all publicly-funded birth-five classrooms and supports families to choose quality programming across different program types. VQB5 sets shared expectations for measuring quality and supporting teachers for all birth to five programs. Through VQB5, teachers and leaders will receive the feedback and support they need to help young children learn.

By fall 2023, all publicly-funded programs will be required to participate with ratings shared publicly in fall 2024. Early childhood programs that do not receive any public funds will have the option to participate.

VQB5 Resources for Practice Year 2 (2022-2023)

Donations to VAAEYC go directly to a Scholarship Fund to help support Early Childhood Educators get the vital professional development they need for licensing. The Scholarship Fund helps pay for Professional Development opportunities to help them advance their knowledge and professionalism, which leads to higher quality education for young children in Virginia.


VAAEYC Offers Scholarships and Assistance!


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