Early Care & Education: All Things Workforce

In Part 2, Lea Austin discusses CSCCE's recent publication,  The ECEPTS Journey , which articulates and analyzes operating principles that have shaped ECEPTS' evolution and influence. She reflects on what those principles suggest for others seeking to build effective, mission-driven organizations. Lea also shares what's next in her own professional journey and why centering "self" matters in that...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Lea Austin, former Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC-Berkeley, reflects on her 25-year career in ECE. In discussing lessons learned and persistent challenges facing the field, Lea examines how ECE workforce development both shapes — and is shaped by — the public workforce system in the United States.

In this conversation, Randi Wolfe and Harry Leech unpack the promise of apprenticeship,  systemic reforms needed to unlock its full potential, the hurdles to aligning apprenticeships with college coursework and degrees, and why building the capacity of intermediaries is essential to expand U.S. apprenticeships to the scale, reach, and impact seen in the U.K. and other nations.

What happens when one of the nation's top apprenticeship leaders sits down with one of ECE's boldest innovators? A lot! In this episode, John Ladd, who led the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship for 17 years, joins ECEPTS Executive Director  Randi Wolfe to discuss the national apprenticeship system, recent Executive Orders, and what it takes to build successful apprenticeship pathwa...

Neighborhood Villages (NV) in Massachusetts is widely recognized as an early adopter and highly successful ECE apprenticeship leader. In this interview, C hief Program Officer , Binal Patel, traces NV's journey from developing their first registered apprenticeship to leading a statewide network of organizations that may differ in structure and focus, but share a commitment to working collaborative...

Since launching the state's first ECE Apprenticeship in 2019, Camp Fire First Texas has engaged more than 200 incumbent workers in three stackable apprenticeships. In this episode, Program Director Yolanda Willis discusses the evolution of their Registered Apprenticeship programs, highlighting the program design and how it honors the strengths of the ECE workforce and addresses widespread challeng...

Since 2000,  Institute for American Apprenticeships (IAA)  has delivered education and technical assistance to trade associations, employers and government agencies to expand the reach of apprenticeship as a workforce solution. Listen and learn from  Matt McKenney, IAA President and CEO, as he shares his wisdom and experience with ECE apprenticeships, the apprenticeship system, how to get started...

This episode is a recording of Brent Parton's keynote presentation at the 2023 ECEPTS National Conference. Currently the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration for the U.S. Department of Labor, Brent has been stalwart in his support of ECE apprenticeships from the beginning. In sharing his wisdom, insight, and encouragement, he reminds us of the significance of th...

In 2019, a planning grant from the James Irvine Foundation led to the launch of ECEPTS, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to ensuring that low-income workers have the power to advance economically. Learn from Sabrina Singh Kansara, Senior Program Officer, as she discusses the critical significance of the ECE industry and the role of philanthropy in supporting and advocating for ECE Apprentice...

In 2022, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® National Center launched a 6-state apprenticeship pilot program. In this episode, Megan Burk, Director of Workforce Initiatives, explains why T.E.A.C.H. decided to develop ECE apprenticeships, provides an update on the initiative, and shares invaluable experience and insights about the promise of ECE apprenticeships and the role of intermediaries.

CSCCE is widely recognized as a national leader in ECE workforce research and policy. Listen in as Executive Director Lea Austin discusses the policy landscape around funding for the ECE system, the unique potential of the apprenticeship model, her hopes for the National ECE Workforce Center, and more. This is a rich and informative conversation that you don't want to miss!

Whether you're new to the world of ECE Apprenticeship or a seasoned veteran, this conversation with Charlie Milling from ApprenticeshipNC will be useful in learning about one state's efforts to create ECE Apprenticeships, develop ECE career pathways from high school through community college, and encourage employers' capacity as ECE Apprenticeship sponsors.

The recognition of Intermediaries as critical to expanding registered apprenticeships in emerging and non-traditional sectors is gaining considerable traction. In California, LAUNCH and ECEPTS have been innovators in demonstrating the potential of intermediaries and establishing a compelling proof of concept. Listen in as ECEPTS Executive Director, Randi Wolfe, talks with Charles Henkels, Director...

In Part 2 of this 2-part interview, Adele Burnes, Deputy Chief of the CA Division of Apprenticeship Standards, talks about equity in the context of the Registered Apprenticeship system, highlighting strategies and initiatives California is embracing in this regard, and advocating for better policies around the economic challenges facing workers in the "care economy."

In Part 1 of this 2-part interview, Adele Burnes, Deputy Chief of the CA Division of Apprenticeship Standards, discusses the significance of expanding apprenticeship to "non-traditional" sectors like education and technology. She also articulates the funding mechanisms available to absorb the costs of the academic component of apprenticeships.

Joya Chavarin, Ed. D., was one of the original architects of ECE Apprenticeships in California. Her personal and professional lived experience as a black woman informs her understanding of what "walking the walk" of equity and diversity means in ECE professional development, and grounds her unwavering commitment to centering student success and workers' voices in program design and implementation.

Brenda Hagan first got involved in ECE Apprenticeships as a small business owner trying to address a staffing shortage. Since then, as Project Manager in the KY Governor's Office of Early Childhood, Brenda has developed a unique and successful apprenticeship for high school students interested in ECE, and recently launched the first apprenticeship in the U.S. aimed at training ECE Center Directors...

This episode features Pamm Shaw, the primary force and architect behind the large and highly successful Head Start Apprenticeship of the YMCA of the East Bay in California. Reflecting a deep understanding of the ECE industry and workforce, Pamm offers unique wisdom, insight, and encouragement to folks currently in the trenches of building ECE Apprenticeships or considering taking the plunge!

This episode of the ECEPTS podcast features Taylor White and Michael Prebil from New America's Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship(PAYA). Join Dr. Wolfe and her guests as they discuss the history and evolution of Youth Apprenticeship in the U.S., what it takes to create equitable, replicable youth apprenticeship models, and the unique significance of Youth Apprenticeships focused on Early...

In this first episode, you'll hear from  Randi  Wolfe, Ph. D., Executive Director of Early Care & Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS), as she discusses the goals of this podcast and the challenges to be considered in the long-term battle to address the "wage issue" that has stymied the development of a robust early care and education industry for decades.