OUR GUIDING BELIEF
We believe it is vital to prioritize and share a collective commitment to serving young children and their families during their most essential years of development.
We are a nonpartisan, member-led organization with representation from across the U.S. and its territories. We support our members with shared resources, an online community, events, and professional development. Our national reach enables us to bring state perspectives to a wider conversation.
MISSION
NASLEE supports early childhood state leaders to connect, learn, and exercise their collective influence to improve outcomes for all young children. Together as members, we focus on prenatal to grade 3 initiatives to strengthen policy, advance research, and drive best practices in the field with an equity lens.
VISION
Our vision is a world where all children have access to a comprehensive and equitable early childhood system to reach their full potential.
Our Values
Our values are guideposts for organizational decision-making and standards for those entrusted with the leadership of our work.
Relationships
We see people at the center of all we do. We recognize the unique role early childhood state leaders play, and we create intentional opportunities for connection, sharing, and collaboration.
Equity
We stand firm in the belief that a focus on equity is essential. We commit to organizational practices that support diversity, equity, and inclusion for early childhood state leaders and the systems in which they work.
Continuous Learning
We believe knowledge is necessary for systemic change. We support early childhood state leaders to draw upon research and best practices as lifelong learners continuously working to improve.
Legacy and Innovation
We respect the past and look toward the future. We balance learning from the history and strong foundation built by state specialists before us with taking new actions for innovation.
Our team
At NASLEE we’re committed to advancing the field of early childhood education and improving outcomes for children. Meet our leaders and find out how you can get involved.
2022 Strategic Plan
Our comprehensive strategic plan charts a path from our past achievements to our goals for the future. We’re committed to realizing our vision of an equitable early childhood system for all.
Membership
NASLEE membership connects you to a unique community of early childhood state leaders and professional resources designed to advance your work.
Our team
At NASLEE we’re committed to advancing the field of early childhood education and improving outcomes for children. Meet our leaders and find out how you can get involved.
2022 strategic plan
Our comprehensive strategic plan charts a path from our past achievements to our vision for the future. We’re committed to realizing our vision of an equitable early childhood system for all.
Membership
NASLEE membership connects you to a unique community of early childhood state leaders and professional resources designed to advance your work.
We make a difference for young children by supporting state education leaders.
A unique resource in the field, NASLEE offers indispensable support for state leaders in early care and education.
We make a difference for young children by supporting state education leaders.
A unique resource in the field, NASLEE offers indispensable tools and connections for state early care and education specialists.
ABOUT NASLEE
Same work, new name! NAECS-SDE is now NASLEE.
History
Established more than 50 years ago, NASLEE has an established track record in early care and education.
A small group of state early childhood specialists founded the organization in 1972 as the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECS-SDE). At that time, few state departments of education had early childhood specialists. Yet it was also a moment when the power of early childhood education to improve the lives of young children was getting the attention of government leaders, and the profession gained momentum.
In the intervening years, many more states have designated early childhood specialists and created units focused on programs for young children and their families. As state resources for early childhood programs have increased, these new specialists have also become NASLEE members. Our membership now represents leaders from almost all states, plus professionals in related nonprofit and independent roles. In 2022 we changed our name to The National Association of State Leaders in Early Education (NASLEE) to better represent our broader reach.