The goal of this strand will be to share knowledge end engage participants in discussion about principles, concepts, guidelines, and techniques that teachers, school administrators, policymakers, and the entire community can use to develop innovative educational programs that will prepare even the youngest students to become effective citizens in a global context.

Panels will include presentations on:

• Curriculum connections: When, what and where should we teach about democracy?
• Democratic practices in the classroom and beyond: How and what should we teach about democracy?
• Inclusion and individuality: What is the importance of and role for inclusion and diversity in our teaching about democracy?
• Democratic leadership: How we can move from participation to advocacy?
• Looking into the future: Do teacher preparation and professional development programs reflect an understanding of how to appropriately introduce and incorporate the principles of democracy into children’s early learning experiences?
• Building on knowledge: What does research tell us about the development of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed in democratic environments?

2.; Advocacy for equal access to quality education and care for every child: from local to international initiatives

The goal of this strand will be to gain knowledge of shared efforts on a broad range of levels of advocacy involving different sectors (NGOs, businesses, families, government, multinational organizations, etc…) working together to promote specific policy and practical objectives concerning access to early childhood education and development resources. This strand will open with a plenary on ECED as a global movement, followed by several panels presenting the situation in different regions of the world. This strand will also include “country clinics” - workshops on moving ECED policy forward in several countries from Central Europe and Central Asia.

Panels will include presentations on:

• Global advocacy priorities that are coming to the forefront regionally (Education for All-Fast Track Initiative, the 4 Cornerstones for Advocacy of the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Education, the disability-rights protection internationally, and in the EU specifically, and others);
• Regional advocacy priorities that should be more prominent internationally (increasing access, quality, and variety of services for all children; expanding and promoting integration programs for Roma, minorities, children with special needs, etc);
• Joining efforts and building partnerships: Cross-sector cooperation among various NGOs (small/large/medium/national/international), businesses, families, government, and multinational organizations;
• Democracy and diversity in Europe: Old and new challenges in ECED, including new trends of migration, and the deepening gap between socioeconomic groups in Central and Eastern Europe;
• Best practices in advocacy efforts in ECED and beyond.

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