Strategic Plan
2003-2004
Association for Childhood Education International
Mission of ACEI
The Mission of ACEI is to promote
and support in the global community the optimal education and development of
children, from birth through early adolescence, and to influence the professional
growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs
of children in a changing society.
Purposes of ACEI
- To promote the inherent rights, education, and well-being
of all children in the home, school, and community
- To work for desirable conditions, programs, and practices
for children from infancy through early adolescence
- To bring into active cooperation all individuals
and groups concerned with children
- To raise the standard of preparation for those actively
involved with the care and development of children
- To encourage continuous professional growth of educators
- To focus the public's attention on the rights and
needs of children and on the ways various programs must be adjusted to fit
those rights and needs.
To achieve these purposes, ACEI is guided
by a dynamic philosophy of education that is flexible and responsive to human
needs in a changing society (ACEI Constitution, Article II).
For more than 100 years, ACEI members
have shared a dual commitment to the fulfillment of every child's potential
and to the professional development of the classroom teacher. ACEI members are
dedicated to an enlightened, child-centered approach to education that respects
the child's developmental experiences at home, in school, and in the community.
This philosophy is reflected in all professional programs, including publications,
resource materials, topic workshops, and conferences. Members represent every
segment of the preschool, elementary, and middle-school fields, and include
child care providers, teachers and teachers-in-training, administrators, researchers,
teacher educators, and institutional subscribers.
With input from the membership-at-large,
committees, local, state/province and national leaders, and Headquarters staff,
the Executive Board plans strategic goals for the Association for the coming
year and beyond. The organization uses the Strategic Plan as a guide when planning
programs and services. The activities listed below are those that the respective
committees and the President's Council plan to accomplish in 2003-2004 to help
ACEI meet its Strategic Goals.
Strategic
Goals and Plan of Action
GOAL ONE
TO PROMOTE ACEI'S MISSION AND WORK IN THE
GLOBAL COMMUNITY
Awards Committee
- Recruit members for the committee from outside the United
States in order to expand focus more globally.
Conference Committee
- Encourage submission of proposals for Spanish-speaking
conferees.
Diversity Concerns Committee
- Encourage submission of proposals focusing attention
on diversity issues in education.
- Encourage/support a more culturally diverse ACEI membership
at all levels.
Heritage Committee
- Prepare autobiographies of committee members past
and present for inclusion in ACEI Archives.
Infancy/Early Childhood Committee
- Encourage submission of proposals that focus on global
infancy/early childhood issues.
- Sponsor a Special Panel Session during the 2004 Annual
Conference titled "Issues and Trends in Standards-based Infancy/Early
Childhood Education Worldwide."
Intermediate/Middle Childhood Committee
- Encourage new members for ACEI and the Intermediate/Middle
Childhood Committee, with a focus on diversity.
International/Intercultural Committee
- Work jointly with the other committees to further
the international focus of the Association.
- Write articles for the ACEI Exchange and Childhood
Education to increase international awareness.
- Work with the Conference Committee to ensure that
the International Welcome Reception is a quality experience for all of the
attendees.
- Network to encourage international submission of
proposals for concurrent sessions, the Global Sharing Fair, research
forums, and the Hall of Excellence.
Membership Committee
- Continue recruiting members from Head Start Programs
and private child care centers.
- Explore possibility of a monthly electronic newsletter
for Branch Presidents.
- Initiate an electronic newsletter for Student Branch
Advisers.
- Pursue promotional opportunities to reach early childhood
directors.
- Develop relationships between Branches in the United
States and outside the United States.
Nominating Committee
- Actively seek highly qualified candidates for election
to the ACEI Executive Board.
- Prepare announcements for open Executive Board positions.
- Prepare an announcement for the Student Connection
to identify student candidates for the 2004 election.
- Enhance the committee work by adding two new members.
Presidents' Council
- Designate a State, Province or Country Presidents'
Council member to make a personal contact, via letter, phone, or E-mail,
with groups requesting Branch Start-Up Kits or expressing interest in ACEI
membership worldwide.
Professional Standards/Teacher Education Committee
- Develop an Email/mail list of international higher
education members and invite them to the next Annual Conference, as well
as send them a survey.
- Find a member whose institution will host a committee
Web site and then establish the site and link to ACEI's Web page.
Public Affairs Committee
- Continue to work with UNICEF and the other NGOs
in support of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Increase perspective to be more global by connecting
with the International/Intercultural Committee and by identifying important
issues through the World Forum.
- Continue to encourage the distribution of press
kits to membership to empower local advocacy on behalf of ACEI.
- Recruit Speakers' Bureau and media representatives
from outside the United States.
- Establish ongoing communication with OMEP, and
partner with OMEP and the World Forum for features in The Activist.
- Support continuing international advocacy via Education
and Care in the 21st Century.
- Act on the Resolution on Child Soldiers and the
Resolution on Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Publications Committee
- Address global concerns with an International Theme
Issue of Childhood Education, "Education of the Aboriginal Child."
- Work with individuals from outside the U.S. as
Guest Editors.
- Revise the ACEI position paper "Children and
War."
- Consider granting limited translation rights for
ACEI material.
Research Committee
- Obtain addresses (mail and E-mail) for international
members at higher education institutions and encourage them to submit research
proposals for 2004.
- Enhance research proposal information on the ACEI's
Web site.
- Work with the Technology Committee to establish
a research strand to increase international submissions.
Student Committee
- Support and encourage membership in the student
listserv to enable students to network, collaborate, and share ideas regarding
Branches and the field of education, thus promoting student involvement
and retention.
Technology Committee
- Provide access to virtual presentations to all
ACEI members.
- Provide all members with an opportunity to participate
by sharing knowledge and research at a very low cost.
Week of the Classroom Teacher
- Promote the Week of the Classroom Teacher activities
as widely as possible within the United States.
- Write a column for The Activist newsletter
on the 2004 WOCT theme of "The Intrinsic Rewards of Teaching."
- Increase the number of state governors who proclaim
the Week of the Classroom Teacher.
- Develop updated WOCT promotional materials.
- Collaborate with the International/Intercultural
Committee to offer a jointly sponsored session at the 2004 ACEI Conference
on the theme of "Cultural Components Involved in How Teachers Are Perceived."
- Continue researching and drafting the position statement
"Teachers in the Lives of Children."
- Plan a Celebration Breakfast for the 2004 Conference
honoring teachers working within culturally diverse communities.
- Provide assistance to the Public Affairs Committee
in drafting resolutions concerned with current issues affecting teachers.
GOAL TWO
TO PROMOTE ACEI'S LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT
TO THE WHOLE CHILD AND THE WHOLE CURRICULUM
Awards Committee
- Continue our committment to the whole child and
whole curriculum through our recognition of deserving individuals.
Conference Committee
- Continue inclusion of virtual presentations in
the 2004 Annual Conference and designate their own meeting room with a facilitator.
Diversity Concerns Committee
- Submit at least one article to the ACEI Exchange,
focusing on diversity issues.
Intermediate/Middle Childhood Committee
- Promote commitment to the whole child by sharing
current research and issues specific to intermediate middle level children
in a variety of venues.
Membership Committee
- Use Student Connection and Leader News
to encourage students to become committee members and present at meetings.
Nominating Committee
- Obtain addresses (E-mail/mail) of potential candidates
and ask them to consider running for an open position.
Presidents' Council
- Opening meetings at the Annual Conference to Student/Local
Branch Representatives, President, President-Elect, Past President, and
Student Branch Advisers as well as State, Province, and Country representatives.
Public Affairs Committee
- Encourage and engage in collaborative partnerships
and discussions with affiliate organizations and agencies about guiding
and implementing effective change for all children.
- Continue to produce timely press releases, articles,
position statements, and resolutions that address development of the whole
child.
- Increase the awareness of the membership about
current relevant topics through advocacy and advocacy training.
Publications Committee
- Maintain and strengthen ACEI's use of journal and
focus newsletter articles, position statements, and special publications
to address timely issues in education.
- Pursue special publications on outdoor play, children
and companion animals, etc.
- Pursue publishing projects in connection with children's
health organizations.
Research Committee
- Change research proposal submission requirements
to align more closely with ACEI's goals.
- Continue to accept a broad range of topics in the
research proposals.
Retired Member Committee
- Continue mentoring teachers and working with children
in a variety of ways.
Student Committee
- Sponsor two "Make'n Take Sessions" at
the 2004 Annual Conference.
- Develop a Student Track at the 2004 Conference to
offer sessions students could attend that are specifically designed for
student members in mind.
Technology Committee
- Provide examples of technology application(s) appropriate
to support the whole child and whole curriculum.
GOAL THREE
TO SUSTAIN ACEI'S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ENSURING
EXCELLENCE IN THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH EARLY ADOLESCENCE
Awards Committee
- Continue our commitment to excellence in leadership
and teaching through our recognition of deserving individuals.
Diversity Concerns Committee
- Sponsor a special session (panel) during the 2004
Annual Conference to broaden the perspective of diversity involving students
in "Understanding the Needs of Diverse Learners."
Infancy/Early Childhood Committee
- Encourage each Infancy/Early Childhood member to
recruit at least one new ACEI member.
Intermediate/Middle Childhood Committee
- Investigate educational designs related to intermediate/middle
childhood schools internationally, and share the information at a future
conference.
Membership Committee
- Expand ACEI leadership training, making it available
to all ACEI Branch Leaders through publications and the Web site.
Nominating Committee
- Nominate a classroom teacher/consultant or other
non-university person to be part of the ACEI Executive Board.
Professional Standards/Teacher Education Committee
- Address timely topics via the Committee's column
in the ACEI Exchange.
Public Affairs Committee
- Update and follow up on past ACEI resolutions that
are still pertinent to current ACEI policy, and discard resolutions that
are no longer relevant to the mission of the organization.
- Explore collaborative efforts with the Publications
Committee to review, update, and rewrite position papers.
- Forward to appropriate committees recommendations
made at both the Public Affairs Forum and Town Meeting.
- Work with the Research Committee on a collaborative
research study on current practice related to recess.
- Investigate avenues to move Education and Care
in the 21st Century beyond early childhood.
Publications Committee
- Pursue special publications on infants and toddlers,
multiage classroom, educational leadership, etc.
- Revise the position paper "On Standardized
Testing."
- Develop a detailed proposal about how technology
can be used to enhance ACEI's publishing efforts and thus improve our ability
to provide leadership in ensuring education excellence.
- Launch a new focus newsletter, Focus on Inclusive
Education.
Research Committee
- Have a highlighted session in which several international
presenters would serve on a panel to discuss research around the world.
Student Committee
- Submit articles for the Student Slant column in
the ACEI Exchange and publish two Student Connection newsletters.
Technology Committee
- Bring to the membership research and practice that
is appropriate to children.
Week of the Classroom Teacher Committee
- Highlighting the role of teachers in the lives
of children, internationally, by encouraging new members and conference
attendees to develop proposals to present at the 2004 Conference.
GOAL FOUR
TO SUPPORT ACEI'S UNIQUE LEADERSHIP ROLE
IN ENSURING EXCELLENCE IN TEACHER EDUCATION GLOBALLY
Awards Committee
- Continue our commitment to excellence in leadership
and teaching through our recognition of deserving individuals.
Conference Committee
- Plan for the 2005 Conference at the Grand Hyatt
in Washington, D.C.
Diversity Concerns Committee
- Collaborate with the Student Committee to plan
a joint special session in 2005 encouraging involvement in ACEI activities
while recognizing the accomplishment/achievements of various ethnic groups
in the United States.
Infancy/Early Childhood Committee
- Plan and host a luncheon at the 2004 Annual Conference
that will focus on standards for infancy/early childhood programs around
the world.
Intermediate/Middle Childhood Committee
- Support ACEI's unique leadership role in ensuring
excellence in teacher preparation by highlighting professional dispositions.
- Encourage committee members to apply to become
ACEI/NCATE reviewers.
Professional Standards/Teacher Education Committee
- Support the ACEI Program Review Process by increasing
active recruitment of reviewers—the goal is for each committee member
to recruit one new reviewer who will be an asset to the review process.
- Work on creating an accurate E-mail list of higher
education members to increase communication.
- Renew the Committee's role in professional standards
by making the NCATE Program Review Coordinator a permanent ad hoc Committee
member and make the review process a regular part of the Committee's meeting
agenda each year.
Public Affairs Committee
- Begin using The Activist as a means of disseminating
information about current/relevant ACEI issues and to promote advocacy among
the membership.
- Encourage the use of the Committee Chair Luncheon
as a working session to promote collaborative efforts between the Public
Affairs Committee and all other ACEI committees.
Publications Committee
- Address the needs and concerns of teacher educators
through articles in Focus on Teacher Education, Childhood Education
articles, and the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, as
well as through special publications.
- Work to establish a column in Childhood Education
that recognizes teachers who take a courageous stand in support of best
teaching practices.
- Pursue a Theme Issue on the "Culture of Teaching."
- Pursue a publication addressing politically driven
changes and dangers to teacher education and best practices.
Research Committee
- Continue to write an article for The Activist.
- Place an invitation for research proposals for
the 2004 ACEI Conference in Childhood Education to increase participation
in research sessions at ACEI.
- Work with the editor of the Journal of Research
in Early Childhood on involving our Committee members in the review
process of manuscripts.
Retired Member Committee
- Remain active in providing a leadership role in
elementary, K-8, and preschool education.
Student Committee
- Support the Week of the Classroom Teacher to honor
the work of teachers globally.
Technology Committee
- Provide opportunities for faculty to share research
and practice concerning technology applications appropriate for teacher
educators.
Week of the Classroom Teacher
- Encourage more students preparing to be teachers
to be involved on the Committee.
Giving Teachers a World of Support
ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL
17904 Georgia Avenue, Suite 215 Olney,
MD 20832 USA
301.570.2111; 1.800.423.3563, Fax 301.570. 2212
aceihq@aol.com, www.acei.org
Content Copyright 
2004 by the Association for Childhood Education International. All rights reserved
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