Removing the guardrails of democracy: Silencing critique of early childhood policy and practice

In this article, the authors consider the shift from neoliberalism to authoritarian practice and its chilling effect on early childhood education policy, practice, and advocacy work. Firstly, they consider the history of resistance found within the field of early childhood education, recognizing the success of the reconceptualization movement. Secondly, they present the case of the 2021–2022 US legislative session in the state of Florida as evidence of the emergence of authoritarian practices. The authors conclude with proposals for partial, provisional, and practical ways of responding to the increasingly authoritarian conditions governing the education of young children.