WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), this week re-introduced the Early Educators Apprenticeship Act to support apprenticeships in early childhood education.

While child care costs strain working families, child care workers are often faced with low wages and long hours due to a lack of available educators, especially in rural areas. Apprenticeships are an innovative way to address these challenges, especially as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult for families to make child care arrangements and the industry struggles to survive.

“Access to quality and affordable child care can be particularly challenging in rural areas like those in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “The Early Educators Apprenticeship Act is a commonsense solution to this issue and will help bridge that gap by strengthening our early childhood education workforce. Giving our educators a clear pathway to successful careers allows us to increase the quality and coverage of care, providing relief to both families and childcare workers in our state.”

Specifically, the Early Educators Apprenticeship Act, authored by Senator Young, will provide resources to child care apprenticeship programs in order to:

  • Equip apprentices with specialized knowledge and skills required in early childhood education work.
  • Increase the number of apprentices with a recognized credential or degree.
  • Promote recruitment and retention of apprentices.
  • Provide a pathway to career advancement for apprentices.
  • Track individuals who have completed an apprenticeship to determine effective program strategies.
  • Support partnerships with institutions of higher education and businesses to provide transferable credit to apprentices.
  • Support apprenticeships in underserved or rural communities.


The Early Educators Apprenticeship Act also removes regulatory burdens restricting the presence of home-based child care providers in rural areas.

Supporters of this legislation include Bank Street College of Education, Bipartisan Policy Center, Child Care Aware of America, Early Care and Education Consortium, Educare Learning Network, First Five Years Fund, KinderCare Education, National Head Start Association, National Association for the Education of Young Children, New America, Save the Children Action Network, Start Early, and ZERO TO THREE.

Click here to learn more about the bill.

 

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