On October 17, 2024, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), Michigan Works Agencies, and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity – Workforce Development, celebrated Early Care and Education Registered Apprenticeship Programs (ECE RAPs) across Michigan.
Michigan’s Early Care and Education (ECE) Registered Apprenticeship programs offer a structured framework designed to address the workforce crisis in the ECE sector by providing a pathway for early educators to earn credentials and advance their careers while earning at least one wage increase through apprenticeships. The program relies on a collaborative framework involving registered apprenticeship sponsors, child care employers, and apprentices. Sponsors, including Michigan Works! Agencies and community-based organizations administer the program, provide wraparound services to support apprentice completion, support employers with integrating apprenticeship into daily operations and help secure funding. Employers offer apprenticeship opportunities and commit to providing on-the-job learning and wage increases, and apprentices participate in structured on-the-job learning, gain experience, and work towards nationally recognized credentials. This multifaceted approach aims to create a more sustainable ECE workforce in Michigan.
“The impact of Early Care and Education Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Michigan has been transformative. By providing a structured pathway for professional development and on-the-job training, we’re not only elevating the quality of care for our children but also addressing the critical shortage of qualified early educators. This program is a win-win solution that supports both our dedicated child care workers and the families they serve. It’s exactly the kind of innovative approach we need to address the child care crisis and build a stronger, more sustainable system for Michigan’s future”, said Alicia Guevara Warren, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.
The successes that were shared included 95 child care employers engaged in an ECE RAP, 215 apprentices actively participating, and 78 apprentices who have completed their registered apprenticeship. The successes of the last year will be highlighted in a much-anticipated Early Care and Education Registered Apprenticeships in Michigan report on the Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s Child Care Innovation Fund page. The data shared at the event demonstrates the power of this cross sector and collaborative approach to helping child care educators achieve their credentials, increasing the supportive and qualified staff in Michigan, allowing for more children to benefit from high quality early care and education in child care.
This day-long event offered opportunities to learn about the current state of ECE RAPs, the development of ECE career pathways, and the benefits of participating in ECE RAPs. Sessions featured panels with state leaders, registered apprenticeship intermediaries, child care employers, and ECE apprentices. With 14 agencies across Michigan now having registered ECE RAPs serving 80 of MI’s 83 counties, the event represented this statewide initiative and celebrated the cross sector approach that is proving effective as a part of solving the child care crisis in Michigan.