Working for just,

equitable, and quality

early childhood education and 

care for every young child.



April 2026 Updates

Defending the Early Years, Inc. is a
501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Donations are tax deductible.
Our Tax ID: 82-4308558
Follow DEY for the latest updates
Facebook  Instagram  Linkedin  

New Blog

Defending Childhood and Democracy: Jonathan Kozol's New Book

I don’t remember when I first read Savage Inequalities; it was probably during my undergraduate studies at the University of the District of Columbia. I do remember the feeling of shock and awe that someone was writing clearly about how public schools in urban cities were failing Black and Brown children. 

RPS Course Foundations of Whole Child Care and Education Includes Live Workshops

Our next RPS course, Foundations of Whole Child Care and Education, led by Kisha Reid, will include monthly live workshops!


In this monthly program, Kisha will identify key foundations for fostering holistic child development, supporting children’s autonomy, and building affirming, nurturing environments for children and families.


Each month focuses on a core set of foundations for thriving classrooms.


RPS courses are offered to our monthly subscribers for $8 a month. In addition to the monthly live workshop, subscribers will receive a reflective workbook.


Click on the link below to become an RPS subscriber and learn with Kisha!

April Book Talks


This month, we are hosting two book talks. We rescheduled our March Book Talk for Thursday, April 23rd, at 7 pm EDT. DEY National Advisor and host of That Early Childhood Nerd podcast, Heather Bernt-Santy, will join DEY ED Denisha Jones to discuss her new book Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood.


Our second Research into Practice Book Talk is on Thursday, April 29th, at 7 pm EDT. Authors Patricia Cantor, Melinda Holohan, and Jean Rogers join us for a discussion of their book Screen-Aware Early Childhood: A Realistic Approach to Helping Young Children Thrive in a Digitally Complex World.


DEY Podcast with Kisha Reid

Episode 39: Wild & Free

Diversity

 Is Not Divisive

BLMAS Year of Purpose Resource

For April, our Diversity Is Not Divisive Resource is the book Seeing Ourselves in Nature: Stories for Educators and Children of Indigenous, Black, and Other People of the Global Majority. In this book, editor "Jessica Fong asks how Black and Brown educators in the United States create space for predominantly Black and Brown children and families to reconnect to nature. Recognizing the scarcity of stories from people of the global majority in the predominantly white literature surrounding nature education in the United States, Fong sought out thirteen other educators of color to share their rich and profound experiences with young children in nature. Sharing these stories is a first step in the long road to making nature education equitable for all children."

The Black Lives Matter at School Year of Purpose highlights a different guiding principle each month. We will share a book related to the monthly principle.


For April, the guiding principle is Intergenerational. This principle states: We cultivate a communal network free from ageism and adultism because of our belief in the leadership and learning potential of all people, regardless of age. We recognize and celebrate the intergenerational relationships that have always been and must continue to be when working for justice.


The book we recommend for teaching the Intergenerational Principle is The Year We Learned to Fly, by

Jacqueline Woodson.


DEY Dialogues

Did you miss our DEY Dialogue on Challenging Fascism in Early Childhood Education and Care? No worries. You can watch the recording here!

Mini-Grant Update

Community Workshop ~ Ferguson Library, Ferguson, Missouri

Our goal was to create opportunities for those who support early childhood learning to play and learn and about playing and learning.

Threat Watch Alert

Our Leadership

Board of Directors

Nancy Carlsson-Paige

Founder and Senior Advisor


Diane Levin

Founder and Senior Advisor


Blakely Bundy

Secretary


Geralyn Bywater

Treasurer


Executive Director

Denisha Jones



Founding National Advisory Board 

Constance Kamii

Lilian Katz

Maurice Sykes

Sherry Cleary

Doris Pronin Fromberg 

Deborah Meier

Edgar Klugman

DEY National Advisors



Suzanne Axelsson

Heather Bernt-Santy

Samuel Broaden

Takiema Bunche Smith

Erika Christakis

Bill Crain

Rixa Evershed

Dale Farran

Carol Garboden-Murray

Laleña Garcia

Michelle Gunderson

Tom Hobson

Nadia Jaboneta

Susan Linn

Melinda Marshall

Kisa Marx

Peter Rawitsch

Kisha Reid

Rukia Rodgers

Ruth Rodriguez-Fay

Kaliris Yimar Salas-Ramirez

James St. Clair

Judith Van Hoorn

Dodah Yirusha


Follow DEY for the latest updates.
Facebook  Instagram  Linkedin  YouTube