Skip Navigation
Welcome to our new website!

With state data, polling results, policy deep dives and the latest news about child care and early learning from across the country, we have multiple ways you can become a Child Care Champion.

Sign up here for our alerts and actions!

Policy Priority
ADDITIONAL CHILD AND FAMILY INITIATIVES

Apprenticeships

Overview

The child care shortage in the United States is due in large part to the child care and early learning professional workforce shortage. Too many professionals have left the sector for higher wages and better benefits, while providers struggle to keep doors open while paying minimum wage to their employees. 

Quality child care and early learning programs rely on educators with specific knowledge and skills. To recruit and retain quality educators, some states have instituted child care and early learning Registered Apprenticeship programs that combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training.

These apprenticeship programs provide an accessible way for educators to acquire the knowledge and skills they need, along a pathway to the credential or degree needed to advance their career, ultimately improving program quality. 

Top
Resources

Resource

Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships: Overview

November 2, 2023

Early childhood education apprenticeship programs provide an accessible way for educators to acquire the knowledge and skills they need, along a pathway to the credential or degree needed to advance …

Resource

The Promise of Apprenticeships to Strengthen the Child Care Workforce

September 6, 2023

Quality child care and early learning opportunities for young children depend on a well-qualified early care and education (ECE) workforce. The ECE workforce has long been plagued by high turnover, …

Resource

ACF, Labor, and Education Joint Webinar Highlights the Role of ECE Apprenticeships in Addressing Workforce Shortages

June 1, 2022

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) co-hosted …

latest
Updates

News

House and Senate Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Expand Early Educator Apprenticeships

May 4, 2023

In an effort to address our nation’s workforce challenges, including in early learning and care programs, the bipartisan Early Educators Apprenticeship Act was introduced in the Senate by Senator Todd …

News

Senate Appropriations Committee Reviews Biden Administration’s Emergency Domestic  Supplemental Request, Highlighting Ongoing Child Care Challenges

November 9, 2023

On Wednesday, November 8, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing to discuss President Biden’s FY24 supplemental funding request. As part of the three-hour hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas …

What You Can Do about
Apprenticeships


Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact our policy team directly at mail@ffyf.org for more info.


Stay Updated

Receive monthly updates on the latest news, policy, and actions to advance federal investment in children and their families.