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

Please join AACTE, NAEYC and The W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation on October 22 from 3:30-4:45 ET/2:30-3:45CT as higher education and early childhood leaders discuss evolving threats to higher education and the implications for the early childhood educator pipeline and profession. This webinar will include a deep dive into the implications of new federal higher education accountability measures regarding graduates’ earnings that are scheduled to take effect in July 2026.

Speakers will shine a light on these evolving threats and action steps that policymakers, advocates, higher education faculty and leaders, and philanthropy can take in response. 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, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• 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
• Hailee Heinz, Division Director of Policy, Research and Quality Initiatives, New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department