Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children (SAZAEYC)

SAZAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children

Decades of research have proven it's important to capitalize on the small window of time when young children learn to talk, learn through play, and begin to develop the social skills needed to get along with their peers. The economic and community benefits of high-quality early learning and development experiences for all young children cannot be understated and include increased graduation rates, increased economic wellbeing for all communities, and the long-term development of a high-quality professional workforce. In Pima County, although we have seen an increase of 700 more three and four year olds enrolled in high-quality childcare programs, there are still more than 18,000 three and four year olds without access to childcare and educational opportunities!
A highly-qualified early childhood educator is at the center of a high-quality early learning experience. Research has shown that children who attend high-quality preschool are better prepared to be successful in school and in their future careers. Despite the important role early childhood educators play, and increased public demand and incremental financing for high-quality early learning, it is difficult to earn a living wage as an early childhood educator.
The national median hourly wages for an early childhood educator are $10.60 per hour (NAEYC). Currently, 46% of the early childhood workforce receives public assistance. It is not enough to demand high-quality education for young children; is critical and we must ensure that educators are provided with affordable high-quality professional development and education opportunities. Early childhood educators that have a knowledge of child development, theoretical frameworks and curriculum development ensure children have the early experiences they need to be more likely to succeed in school, read on grade level and graduate on time.
The NAEYC is a national professional organization focused on supporting high quality learning for young children by increasing the quality of early childhood education programs and of the secondary education programs that educate our workforce. SAZAEYC is our local NAEYC affiliate. Formerly the Tucson Association for the Education of Young Children, SAZAEYC has been providing high quality professional development opportunities, networking, advocacy and membership for early childhood professionals for over 50 years, since the inception of NAEYC in 1965.

Our Impact:
For over 40 years, we have held an annual conference that has featured many national early childhood experts including Lillian Katz, Janet Gonzales-Mena, Bev Bos, Sue Bredekamp, Holly Elissa Bruno, Luis Hernandez, and David Elkind.
Since 2007, we have provided high quality professional development to over 5000 educators from Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Mexico.
Since 2013, The Brenda Loomis Scholarship "Hello My Friend" has provided $3300 in funding to allow early childhood educators to pursue their higher education degrees.
We provide grants and scholarships to classroom educators and directors that provide needed materials and supplies to enhance the learning of their young students. Since 2010 we have supported over 30 classrooms. Over 500 children in Southern Arizona have benefitted from these enhancements to their classrooms and outdoor play spaces.
We promote advocacy for early care and education at the local, state and national level by engaging in local initiatives, and sending members to our state and national legislature to speak about our work and its importance on young children and their families .
For nine years, SAZAEYC has been the sub-grantee for Las Familias, a First Things First and United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona Community of Practice. SAZAEYC and Las Familias, in partnership, support early childhood educators in Pima County by providing high-quality professional development, on-going coaching and access to an extensive library of print resources. Over 200 educators have created change in their classrooms since its inception.
Since 2009, 14 Las Familias members have pursued higher degrees, including Masters and PhD.