Child Care Centers Trade Associations

California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAAEYC)

California’s NAEYC affiliate providing statewide professional development, advocacy, and an annual conference; more than 3,500 members across 18 chapters.

https://caeyc.org/ Membership: 3,500

Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC)

Alliance of leading multi-state/multi-site providers, state child care associations, and education service partners representing 9,000+ early learning programs; focuses on state and federal advocacy for quality at scale.

https://www.ececonsortium.org Membership: 9,000

Georgia Association for the Education of Young Children (GAEYC)

Georgia’s NAEYC affiliate with nearly 9,000 members; advances quality early learning through professional development, networking, and advocacy.

https://www.gaeyc.org Membership: 9,000

Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (Illinois AEYC)

Illinois’s NAEYC affiliate and largest ECE professional organization in the state, offering PD, policy engagement, and chapter networking to more than 1,000 members.

https://illinoisaeyc.org/ Membership: 1,000

Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (INAEYC)

NAEYC’s Indiana affiliate with close to 3,000 members; provides PD, accreditation support, and policy advocacy to strengthen early learning statewide.

https://inaeyc.org/ Membership: 3,000

Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC)

NAEYC’s Massachusetts affiliate with 1,500+ members; delivers PD, networking, and statewide advocacy for the ECE workforce.

https://www.maaeyc.org/ Membership: 1,500

Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC)

Minnesota’s NAEYC affiliate with 700+ members; promotes program quality, leadership development, and policy advocacy for early educators.

https://www.mnaeyc.org/ Membership: 700

Minnesota Child Care Association (MCCA)

Statewide association representing licensed child care centers in Minnesota; advocates on business and policy issues and supports 300+ member programs.

https://www.minnesotachildcareassociation.org/ Membership: 300

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

The premier national membership organization for early learning professionals; roughly 55,000 members as of FY2024, connecting practice, policy, and research.

https://www.naeyc.org/ Membership: 55,000

National CACFP Sponsors Association (NCA)

National hub for CACFP sponsors and providers; 30,000+ provider members access training, advocacy, and CACFP-specific resources.

https://www.cacfp.org/ Membership: 30,000

National Child Care Association (NCCA)

National voice for licensed child care providers; offers advocacy, education, and a professional network with 11,000+ supporters.

https://www.nationalchildcare.org/ Membership: 11,000

National Head Start Association (NHSA)

National voice for Head Start programs and families; 1,300+ individual members and advocacy for a field serving ~700,000 children and 1,600 grant recipients.

https://nhsa.org/ Membership: 1,300

New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children (NJAEYC)

New Jersey’s NAEYC affiliate with 2,000+ members statewide; advances quality early learning through PD and public policy engagement.

https://www.njaeyc.org/ Membership: 2,000

New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children (NMAEYC)

New Mexico’s NAEYC affiliate with 1,000+ members; provides professional development, networking, and statewide advocacy.

https://www.nmaeyc.org/ Membership: 1,000

Ohio Association of Child Care Providers (OACCP)

Represents directors and owners of 600+ licensed centers caring for 50,000+ children; provides advocacy, regulatory updates, and member networking in Ohio.

https://www.oaccp.org/ Membership: 600

Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA)

Statewide membership association for ECE providers; members operate 1,500+ regulated child care programs and access TEACH scholarships, PD, and advocacy.

https://www.pacca.org/ Membership: 1,500

South Carolina Early Childhood Association (SCECA)

State organization affiliated with SECA; 1,500+ members benefit from training, statewide conferences, and a professional network for educators and child care providers.

https://www.sceca.org/ Membership: 1,500

Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA)

Regional professional association across the Southern U.S.; 5,000+ members access a scholarly journal, PD, and multi-state networking.

https://www.seca.info/ Membership: 5,000

Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC)

Vermont’s NAEYC affiliate; the state’s largest ECE membership association with 581 current members (2024), offering PD, workforce initiatives, and advocacy.

https://www.vtaeyc.org/ Membership: 581

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA)

Wisconsin’s NAEYC affiliate with 2,031 members in FY2024; administers T.E.A.C.H. scholarships and REWARD stipends and hosts a major annual conference.

https://wisconsinearlychildhood.org/ Membership: 2,031