As an IACET Accredited Provider, NAEYC is offering IACET CEUs for its 2025 Pre-Conference Workshops in compliance with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. Click here for FAQs. Attendees registered for a Pre-Conference workshop will receive more information via email in the coming months.

Pre-Conference Workshops

Orange County Convention Center

Tuesday, November 18, 2025  

Higher Education Faculty Workshop: Completing the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Process for Associate Degree, Bachelor's Degree, and Initial-Master's Degree Programs in Colleges & Universities 

Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fees: $275 for members; $300 for nonmember 

Description: This full-day workshop is designed to familiarize and better equip faculty working in higher education associate degree, bachelor's degree or initial-master's degree programs who are engaging for the first time in the NAEYC Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs system OR are new faculty members in currently accredited higher education (college/university) programs that may be preparing for renewal. In addition to the Self-Study Report template and accreditation resources, this workshop will focus on the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Standards including the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators; creating aligned key assessment instructions and rubrics; and collecting and using candidate performance data to improve higher education programs.  

Note: For faculty experienced with the higher education accreditation system and seeking higher education accreditation related professional development (i.e., faculty preparing renewal self-study reports, meeting interim reporting requirements, or responding to conditions) please see the related concurrent sessions planned during the Annual Conference. 

Learning Outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 

• identify the overall process/steps of the NAEYC Higher Ed. Accreditation system 
• gain an understanding of the NAEYC Higher Education Accreditation Standards and the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators and apply them within higher education accreditation processes 
• align Learning Opportunities and Key Assessments to the Professional Standards & Competencies 
• recognize and utilize features of high-quality rubrics 
• identify strategies for candidate performance data collection & analysis  
• utilize the accreditation self-study template 
• locate and employ additional resources to support their accreditation journey 

Participants can earn 0.7 CEUs 

Making & Tinkering with STEM: Play, Content & DAP in PreK–3 Settings: A Hands-On Training for Educators

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $275 for members; $300 for nonmembers  

Description: Join us for an inspiring full-day workshop exploring the power of Making and Tinkering in early childhood and early elementary classrooms. This interactive session celebrates the release of the Second Edition of Making and Tinkering with STEM: Solving Design Challenges with Young Children and offers hands-on experiences, collaborative learning, and practical strategies for implementation.  

Discover how playful, inquiry-based design challenges support deep learning across all developmental domains—and align with Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) and learning standards. Participants will explore how to design engaging environments, integrate tinkering into curriculum planning, and support children’s creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills.  

Includes a copy of the new book with registration. 

Learning outcomes: 

• Introduction to the new book: Features 35 design challenges appropriate for children ages 3 through 8; this includes favorite design challenges from the first edition, some of which are revised to be more robust, as well as all-new design challenges  
• Interactive Experiences: Engage in hands-on activities and collaborative discussions and evaluate how educators apply Making & Tinkering experiences and principles to real-world teaching scenarios  
• Joyful Learning in Action: Analyze how hands on making & Tinkering explorations can transform classrooms into vibrant hubs of creativity, exploration, and discovery.  
• Digging Deep: Delve into the guidelines of DAP— and explore how Making & Tinkering can support all areas of learning and development (social-emotional development, physical development, cognitive development, language development, and literacy) and integrate into curriculum planning, assessment, creating a caring community, approaches to teaching and supporting families—exploring practical strategies for implementation.  
• Q&A, Goal Setting, and Networking: Connect with fellow educators and share insights, challenges, and successes in implementing Making & Tinkering experiences. Create an action plan for your own setting or context. 

Participants can earn 0.6 CEUs

Navigating NAEYC’s Early Learning Program Quality Assessment and Accreditation: Understanding the New System and Strengthening Staff and Family Policies and Procedures

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Fees: $275 for members; $300 for nonmembers   

Description: This session will provide an in-depth overview of the new quality assessment and accreditation system designed for early learning programs. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the updated process for pursuing accreditation, including key processes, timelines, and expectations. The session will also take a deep dive into the specific assessment items related to staff and family policies and procedures. Through discussion and practical examples, participants will explore best practices and key considerations for aligning their program’s policies with system requirements. By the end of the session, participants will be prepared to support their program’s readiness related to Family and Staff policies and procedures.    

Learning Outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will:  

• gain an understanding of the new quality assessment and accreditation system, including the overall process early learning programs must follow when pursuing accreditation.   
• be able to identify and apply best practices and key considerations related to staff and family policies and procedures that align with the related assessment items, ensuring their early learning programs are well-prepared for a successful assessment and decision.

Participants can earn 0.6 CEUs

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Affiliate Leadership Day at Annual Conference        

Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fees: $60 for Affiliate Staff and Board Members

Description: *REGISTRATION BY INVITATION ONLY* Join colleagues from across the country as we exchange new ideas and strategies, renew relationships, share success stories and challenges, and help to envision what lies ahead. We look forward to hosting Leadership Day on Wednesday, November 19th. The full day will be devoted to the Reimagining the Relationship (R2): Building Strategic Partnerships between NAEYC and Affiliates. Florida AEYC will be featured as well. A detailed agenda will be available in October.  

Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon coffee are provided. For questions, please contact Travis Davis ([email protected]) and Jordan Christian ([email protected])   

This event is not eligible for IACET CEUs