Registered Apprenticeship for Early Care and Education Teacher
August 26, 2024
LSU Early Childhood Education Institute, Board of Regents collaboration with Louisiana Workforce Commission
BATON ROUGE, LA - To secure funding to build the early care and education pipeline, the LSU Early Childhood Education Institute (ECEI) and the Louisiana Board of Regents collaborated on a submission to the Louisiana Workforce Commission to develop a path for those interested in pursuing a career in early care and education - the Registered Apprenticeship for Early Care and Education Teachers. This initiative will provide funding to those interested in working in the field but who are not yet working in an early care and education program. This funding will parallel the funding available to those currently working in Type 3 childcare centers through the Louisiana Department of Education’s LA Pathways scholarship fund.
“As the field continues to experience staffing shortages, we needed a funding source for those who were not yet working in the field. Applying for a Registered Apprenticeship addressed the issue by providing a path for educating teachers to work in the field,” said Cynthia DiCarlo, PhD, Executive Director of the LSU ECEI. The Louisiana Department of Education currently has a certification structure for lead teachers in childcare programs: the Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate (ECAC). This 120-clock-hour program also requires 480 contact hours working directly with young children, two Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observations, and completion of coursework from the Child Development Associate (CDA) Council, which includes successful completion of a licensing exam, portfolio review, and observation.
“This strategic initiative is one piece of the puzzle to addressing workforce issues in our state,” said Michelle DeMeulenaere, PhD, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Planning and Student Success with the Louisiana Board of Regents. “Our work with the Louisiana Technical and Community College System to accept the ECAC for course credit will really help those interested in pursuing higher education. This is a real step in professionalizing the field.”
Those interested in applying for funding for individual scholarships, participating as a BESE-approved ECAC program, or any Type 3 child care center should visit the Registered Apprenticeship for Early Care and Education Teachers website and complete the appropriate application.
ABOUT ECEI
The Early Childhood Education Institute at LSU is focused holistically on the early years and fills a unique niche by targeting early care, specifically birth through age three. Holistic development invites collaboration from other disciplines to study recommended practices for young children. The ECE Institute at LSU aims to make LSU a leader in early care and education research, dissemination, and advocacy of recommended practices. Through a balanced emphasis on research and education programs, recommended practices in educating and caring for young children will be created, applied, evaluated, and disseminated. We focus on developing expert early care practitioners who deliver high-quality early childhood programming, engage in research practices, and advocate for the profession.
Visit the Early Childhood Education Institute website.
About CHSE
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college comprises the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools: the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, which enrolls birth to age four, and the University Laboratory School, which enrolls kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and the Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and improving quality of life across the lifespan.