This article presents the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators' (NAECTE) position statement on early childhood certification for teachers of children 8 years old and younger in public school settings. The association requires public schools to employ and assign teachers with early childhood certification/endorsement to early childhood classrooms. This would be a positive and low-cost way to help close the achievement gap and ensure academic success for all young children, including those from low-income homes and those who do not speak English as a first language.