WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2026) – The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is proud to announce that the New Hampshire Association for the Education of Young Children (NHAEYC) has officially joined its network of affiliates.

With approval by the NAEYC Governing Board, NHAEYC is now a full affiliate, expanding the national network to include New Hampshire’s early childhood education community. This milestone represents years of dedication to advancing high-quality early learning and strengthening professional support for educators across the Granite State.

“We are delighted that New Hampshire has become the latest NAEYC affiliate,” said NAEYC CEO Michelle Kang. “The passionate early educators in the state will benefit from having an affiliate to support and advocate for them in Concord and around the state.”

NHAEYC becomes part of a national community dedicated to providing local member engagement opportunities, resources, conferences, professional development, and advocacy efforts for early childhood professionals. The affiliation will enable New Hampshire educators to access national resources while maintaining a strong local presence focused on the unique needs of the state’s early learning community.

“NHAEYC is deeply grateful for the collaboration, guidance, and shared leadership that supported our journey to full affiliation,” said Jackie Firmin, NHAEYC’s executive director. “This experience affirms that strong partnerships and sustained commitment are essential to building a resilient professional organization.” 

NHAEYC’s path to full affiliation was supported through a collaborative partnership with the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children (Maine AEYC), which served as fiscal agent during the emerging affiliate phase. This relationship allowed NHAEYC to establish strong governance structures, build sustainable financial practices, and develop member services while benefiting from the experience and guidance of an established affiliate organization.

“The NAEYC Affiliate network thrives when we support one another,” said Heather Marden, co-executive director of Maine AEYC. “Working with NHAEYC was a meaningful example of how established affiliates can help emerging ones build the infrastructure they need to succeed independently.”

With full affiliate status, NHAEYC will focus on key priorities including programmatic supports for early childhood programs, classroom-level supports for educators, quality improvement initiatives, and the development of a statewide director network. 

“We are committed to building a sustainable, educator-centered association that advances high-quality early learning across New Hampshire to strengthen practice and workforce sustainability,” Firmin said.

For more information about NHAEYC, visit its website.

About NAEYC

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. In 2026, we celebrate 100 years of advancing a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and supporting all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. Today, the association comprises tens of thousands of individual members of the early childhood community and 50 Affiliates across the country, all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning.