Early Childhood Apprenticeship Partnership Receives Prestigious Little Red School House Award at 2024 CLAS Convention
Mobile, AL – June 11, 2024 – The Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) proudly announces The Early Childhood Apprenticeship Partnership is the recipient of the 2024 Little Red School House Award. This innovative initiative, a collaboration between the Pike County and Troy City School Systems and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, has set a new benchmark in public education by launching Alabama’s first Early Childhood Apprenticeship program.
The Early Childhood Apprenticeship Partnership addresses the critical need for a skilled early childhood education workforce through a groundbreaking program. High school students and adults can now seamlessly transition 64 college credits from Enterprise State Community College (ESCC) to Troy University, culminating in an Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Arts (AA) degree with a specialization in child development.
Participants begin their journey with dual enrollment early childhood classes at the Hank Jones Early Childhood Center. High school students graduate with either an associate degree in child development or an auxiliary teaching short-term certificate, qualifying them to serve as auxiliary teachers in First-Class Pre-K classrooms across Alabama. Graduates with an AA or AS are eligible to advance as lead teacher apprentices in Pike County or Troy City School Systems, with the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education at Troy University at no cost.
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) apprenticeship model presents three progressive, stackable levels:
- ECE 1: Apprentices earn a short-term certificate and complete 30 on-the-job learning (OJL) competencies as auxiliary teachers.
- ECE 2: Apprentices work towards an AA or AS in Child Development, meeting additional competencies.
- ECE 3: Apprentices pursue a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
Apprentices receive pay raises upon the successful completion of half of the required coursework and competencies, with further increases upon completion of each level. Mentorship from seasoned educators ensures continual professional development. The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) mitigates financial barriers by covering the educational expenses of apprentices, promoting equitable access to education.
“The Early Childhood Apprenticeship Partnership is a pioneering program that not only addresses workforce shortages but also empowers individuals to advance their careers while contributing to the quality of early childhood education in Alabama. This initiative exemplifies the innovative spirit we strive to foster in our educational community,” says CLAS Executive Director Dr. Vic Wilson.
About CLAS
The Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) was founded in 1969 by a small group of school leaders to provide targeted professional learning and support for Alabama’s public school administrators. CLAS now serves thirteen affiliates representing each type of public school/school system leader. CLAS provides the framework to connect dedicated school administrators and other successful leaders with a network for professional growth and support. CLAS is the premier professional learning provider for administrators in public schools in the state of Alabama.
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