Educational Organizations

There are numerous organizations on both the National and State level for education in all levels for all areas and specialties. I have found one in both the National and State level that I find interesting and useful.

National Level
The National Association for the Education of Young Children
This organization's Mission states "NAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children." There are three levels of membership for the NAEYC that include: Comprehensive, Regular, and Student. All three memberships include: 20% off the website's online store, five issues of Teaching Young Children or Young Children, five digital issues of Young Children, reduced registration fees for NAEYC conferences and training, membership discounts for insurances, access to members only information on the NAEYC website, discounts for subscriptions to a variety of educational periodicals, voting rights for the NAEYC elections, and memberships into state and local divisions. The Comprehensive membership has the added benefit of 6 cutting edge books delivered a year. The cost of each membership is $110 for comprehensive, $66 for regular, and $45 for student membership.
The NAEYC holds an annual conference every fall. The upcoming conference will be held November 18-20, 2015 in Orlando, FL. It includes many workshops and break out sessions to provide research information, community discussions, and learning opportunities. The cost of attendance for the 2015 conference has not been released as the conference is still in the planning phase. The website did give information that members will have a discounted rate and you can sign up for updates regarding the conference.


State Level
The Michigan Council for Exceptional Children
This is an organization of which I am personally a member. Grand Valley State University has a student chapter, one of the largest university chapters in Michigan, and membership to the Michigan chapter is included.
The Michigan Chapter is part of the National Council for Exceptional Children. On their website they are quoted as being "a trusted voice in shaping special education policy and practice and has been known for its expertise and leadership throughout the education community in Michigan. Our diverse membership holds the vision that a vibrant professional association, that works together and with other associations, will ensure that individuals with exceptionalities are valued and included in all life roles from birth through young adulthood."
To become a member their a variety of options. There are three levels of membership: Premier, Full, and Basic. Premier membership includes: assess to articles and research, news and publications by the Council, unrestricted communication forums to other professionals and members, discounts for educational resources, books, and continued education programs, connections to the National Division and other special interest divisions, and access to the CEC career center. Another benefit of this membership includes monthly subscription to additional newsletters and webinars The cost of this level of membership is $205 a year. Full membership offers online versions of CEC magazines with research articles, topical newsletters, unlimited access to CEC community to share knowledge between professionals, optional memberships to special interest divisions, and discounts on educational resources and access to prerecorded webinars. The cost of this membership is $115 a year. Finally the Basic membership offers limited access to useful research articles, weekly newsletters, connections to enter into special interest divisions, limited discounts on educational programs, and access to the CEC career center. This value membership has a cost of only $65 a year. Additional all of the memberships offered has a discounted price of 20% for students which is a wonderful resource and opportunity.


The Michigan chapter holds an annual conference in Grand Rapids, MI every year. The most recent conference was held March 4-6, 2015. The conference includes over 130 breakout sessions to discuss every topic imaginable in education. The cost of the conference varies. For workshops there is a $260 fee for members and $290 for non members. The two day seminars have a fee of $155 for members and $195 for non members. Students attending a Michigan university can apply for a stipend to defray the cost of the conference.