About Indiana AEYC - Mission and History

    The Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (Indiana AEYC) is the state's largest and most influential organization of early childhood care and education professionals and parents promoting and supporting quality care and education for all young children, birth through age eight, in Indiana.

    In 1964 the Indiana Association of Preschool Educators became affiliated with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and changed its name to the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (Indiana AEYC). By 2004, Indiana AEYC celebrated its 40th anniversary with over 1,900 members and a statewide network of eighteen local chapters.

    Dr. Grace Dixon served as Indiana AEYC's first President (1964). Beginning with two statewide conferences, one in the spring and one in the fall, Indiana AEYC continued to gain credibility by working closely with early care and education professionals, policy makers, and parents throughout the state.
    By 1968, Indiana AEYC had moved from a governance structure of members-at-large to a board of regional representatives and hosted the Midwest AEYC conference for the first time in Indianapolis.

    In 1969-70, Dr. Jan McCarthy, Early Childhood Department

Indiana AEYC continues to grow and change in order to realize the Association's mission of promoting and supporting quality care and education for young children, birth through age eight, in Indiana.
at Indiana State University, assumed the role of Association President and served as Indiana AEYC's Department Chair at Indiana State University, assumed the role of Association President and served as Indiana AEYC's executive secretary. Over the next ten years, Indiana AEYC continued to increase membership throughout the state and was incorporated as a non-profit organization by the Secretary of State in 1980.  With a Terre Haute corporate address, Indiana AEYC continued working on Association business infrastructure and became a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization in 1982.  Between 1984-85, Indiana AEYC reached a milestone - 1,000 members statewide - and continued to provide the largest early childhood conference in the state.
    In 1990, Indiana AEYC was recognized as a state leader in working with policy makers to put in place a comprehensive planning system for young Hoosier children. Indiana AEYC also gained recognition for its role as a strong and vocal supporter of quality early childhood care and education.  During the 90's, membership grew and brought new chapters located throughout Indiana.  In 1993, the second Midwest AEYC conference was held in Indianapolis, and Indiana AEYC continued to work with a volunteer board of directors and on paid, part-time staff member who worked out of her home.

    By 1995, the Indiana AEYC Board of Directors embarked on a strategic planning process and prioritized the goals of governance, fundraising and fiscal management, staffing, programs and services, and community relations. Indiana AEYC immediately started implementing the goals:

1996 - Indiana AEYC received a state grant to provide financial support in order to pay the fees associated with the accreditation process.

1997 - Indiana AEYC embraced the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Affiliate Development Planning process.

1998 - Indiana AEYC entered into a collaborative relationship with Governor Frank O'Bannon and over 22 other statewide organizations to provide the largest early childhood conference in the state.

1999 - Indiana AEYC establishes a physical presence and co-locates with three other state associations - Indiana Licensed Child Care Association, Indiana School Age Child Care Association, and Voices for Indiana's Children. Indiana AEYC now had an office and full-time staff and reached a goal of 2,000 members statewide.

1999 - Indiana AEYC received financial support from the Educate Indiana Grant (Department of Education) to provide early childhood study groups throughout the state of Indiana.

1999 - Indiana AEYC's website was developed and launched, expanding the visibility and accessibility of the organization to a new level.

2002 - Indiana AEYC hires the first full-time Executive Director.

2003 - Indiana AEYC receives two additional state grants to support the Indiana Accreditation Project and the Indiana Non Formal CDA Project.

    Over the course of the last five years, the Association moved from operating on a $60,000 budget with one part-time, paid staff working out of her home to an Association with 11 full-time and two part-time staff, over 1,900 members, and eighteen local chapters (2003). The annual Early Childhood Conference boasted more than 3,500 participants and a budget of over 3.1 million dollars.