Education Bookends: Threats to Higher Education and the Impact on the Early Educator Pipeline and Profession   

Higher education programs that prepare early childhood educators are facing increasing pressure from policy shifts and accountability measures that could significantly impact the early educator pipeline and profession.

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation will co-host a webinar bringing together higher education and early childhood leaders to examine these emerging threats.

The discussion will include a closer look at upcoming federal higher education accountability measures tied to graduates’ earnings, currently scheduled to take effect in July 2026, and the implications for early childhood preparation programs. Speakers will also outline concrete steps that higher education faculty and leaders, advocates, policymakers, and philanthropists can take to respond.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Jacqueline King, Consultant for Research, Policy and Advocacy, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education 
• Marica Cox Mitchell, Chief Program Officer, Bainum Family Foundation 
• R. Taylor, Dean of Business Programs, Computer Information Systems, Psychology, and Social Sciences, Chemeketa Community College (OR)
• Juan Salgado, Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago 
• Rebecca Gomez, Program Officer, Education, Heising Simons Foundation 
• Michelle Kang, CEO; Daniel Hains, Chief Policy & Professional Advancement Officer; and Mary Harrill, Senior Director for Higher Education, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 
• Sara Slaughter, Executive Director, W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation 

Please join this timely conversation as higher education and early childhood leaders come together to better understand the challenges ahead and identify practical paths forward.

Co-Hosts: