News

Southwestern Michigan College is part of a new early childhood education apprenticeship program to combat childcare “deserts.”

According to a 2024 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) survey, more than 50 percent of Michigan childcare centers faced staffing shortages in the last six months, resulting in under-enrollment, increased tuition and classroom closures.

SMC Professor of Early Childhood Education Ranee Conley sees this apprenticeship as an opportunity to equip teachers with fundamental skills and resources needed to thrive.

“Teaching young children is hard and rewarding work,” said Conley, herself a veteran preschool teacher. “As state and federal education requirements increase for early childhood educators, providers struggle to keep up with community needs, to pay their teachers a living wage and to provide continuous professional development. This apprenticeship helps remove these barriers.”

Registered apprenticeship programs have a long history in American skilled trades, such as construction, manufacturing and nursing, but are relatively new to early childhood education.

Michigan Works! promotes apprenticeship programs as a proven path for workers to earn better wages, build professional skills and meet business demands for skilled labor.

Joining SMC in the apprenticeship program to recruit, train and support future early childhood educators are Michigan Works! and Flowers Early Learning (formerly Tri-County Head Start). The apprenticeship is open to aspiring educators in Cass, Berrien and Van Buren counties.

“Many southwest Michigan families live in childcare deserts,” said Chanda Hillman, Flowers Early Learning CEO. “Our message to potential teachers is simple: If you care about children, come grow with us! Our teachers change lives.”

According to the Center for American Progress, southwest Michigan is home to dozens of childcare deserts, meaning three or more children live in a community for every available childcare slot.

“Professionalizing early childhood education, with better pay and training, will benefit the regional economy,” said Mark O’Reilly, director of business services for Michigan Works! Berrien-Cass-Van Buren. “More reliable childcare options for families mean more reliable workers for southwest Michigan businesses, more economic opportunity, less poverty and healthier children. This apprenticeship is a big win for our community.”

The two-year apprenticeship is open to anyone over the age of 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent. Over two years, apprentices will complete four college courses in early childhood education with paid tuition and paid release time and complete 4,000 hours of on-the-job training paired with experienced teachers.

“This training plan not only ensures that teachers understand curriculum, brain development and best practices for early childhood education,” Conley said, “but also that they have the support they need to understand their own emotions, manage their stress levels and provide healthy, nurturing environments for little brains to flourish.”

To learn more about the apprenticeship program or to apply for a position, visit www.flowersearlylearning.org.