MnAEYC Policy & Advocacy
The Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC) remains deeply committed to advancing policies that strengthen early care and education across our state. The MnAEYC 2026 Legislative Priorities reflect the collective voice of early childhood professionals and focus on expanding access to high-quality early learning, strengthening and sustaining the workforce, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all children and families. These priorities recognize that early care and education is essential infrastructure and that meaningful, lasting change requires coordinated advocacy, informed policy engagement, and strong partnerships between educators, families, and policymakers.
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To support early childhood professionals in becoming effective advocates, MnAEYC has developed both an Advocacy Toolkit and a Take Action Calendar. These resources are designed to empower members with practical tools, clear guidance, and timely opportunities to engage in advocacy throughout the year. The Advocacy Toolkit provides accessible information on communicating with legislators, sharing professional expertise, and advocating for policies that reflect the realities of the field. The Take Action Calendar highlights key legislative milestones, advocacy events, and coordinated outreach efforts, ensuring that MnAEYC members can participate in collective advocacy in ways that are informed, strategic, and impactful.
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This work is led by the dedicated volunteers of the MnAEYC Policy & Advocacy Committee, who play a vital role in monitoring legislative developments, shaping MnAEYC’s policy positions, and mobilizing the early childhood community. The committee works to ensure that the voices of educators, program leaders, and families are represented in policy conversations and that advocacy efforts are grounded in equity, research, and lived experience. Through their leadership, MnAEYC continues to strengthen its role as a trusted advocate for young children, families, and the early childhood profession across Minnesota. This dedicated group meets monthly to stay informed on early childhood policy, engage in coalition work at the state and federal levels, and help shape MnAEYC’s annual policy agenda. Their work ensures that the voices of Minnesota’s early childhood professionals are heard where decisions are made.
MnAEYC also partners with a number of organizations to move forward early childhood field advocacy goals. We are collaborators on the CARE Fellowship, have a seat on the Transforming Minnesota's Early Childhood Workforce Group, and The Advocacy for Children Day planning team.
2026
NAEYC
Public Policy Forum
NAEYC’s annual Public Policy Forum is a multi-day advocacy experience designed to help early childhood educators exercise their powerful policy voices and make themselves heard—at every level. Through a packed agenda of workshops, keynotes, panels, strategy sessions, and conversations with policymakers on Capitol Hill, PPF helps participants:
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Strengthen advocacy skills
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Expand policy knowledge
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Build relationships with other educators, advocates, and allies
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Engage with national and state policy leaders and fellow advocates on the most important, timely, and relevant early childhood education issues
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Deepen relationships with Congressional offices
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MnAEYC is proud to be sending a team of Minnesota representatives to the 2026 NAEYC Public Policy Forum to ensure our state’s needs and perspectives are represented at the national level.
Currently representing Minnesota:
• Leah Budnik, MnAEYC Secretary
• Alex Metchnek, MnAEYC Policy & Advocacy Committee Member
• Erin Wirtz, Minnesota North College Childhood Education Faculty
• Courtney Greiner, Early Educator, Community Organizer & Trainer/Consultant
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We’re proud to celebrate the outstanding advocacy work of our MnAEYC Secretary, Leah Budnik, and her team — Courtney Greiner, Erin Wirtz, and Alex Metchnek — at the NAEYC 2026 Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. The Public Policy Forum is a powerful multi-day advocacy experience where early childhood educators strengthen their advocacy skills, deepen policy knowledge, build connections, and engage directly with national policymakers to advance support for early childhood care and education.​​
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Leah and the team met with staff from Representative Omar’s office, as well as with staff from Senator Smith’s and Senator Klobuchar’s offices, to advocate for critical investments in early childhood education and to share firsthand about the impact recent fraud allegations have had on our profession, families, and communities. Their thoughtful, courageous advocacy helped ensure Minnesota’s voice was part of the national conversation on policies that support educators, children, and families.
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Together, we can ensure Minnesota’s early childhood community has a strong voice at the policy table.
