EKCEP and Partners Announce Groundbreaking New Registered Apprenticeship Program in Early Childhood Education

Eastern Kentucky's childcare industry is welcoming a new generation of professionals with open arms, as 12 apprentices begin their training. Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), in partnership with the Kentucky Office of Employer and Apprenticeship Services (KEAS), the Governor's Office of Early Childhood (GOEC), and LKLP Head Start launched EKCEP’s first earn-while-you-learn, On-the-Job Training (OJT) contract for a Registered Apprenticeship in early childhood education this week.

This groundbreaking initiative will help address the critical shortage of qualified childcare professionals while providing a pathway to rewarding careers with comprehensive training and on-the-job experience for job seekers. 

"This registered apprenticeship program signifies a crucial stride toward building a more robust and well-prepared early childhood workforce in Eastern Kentucky,” said EKCEP Executive Director Becky Carnes-Miller. “It offers a structured pathway for individuals to gain valuable skills and credentials while earning a living wage. We're not just filling jobs; we're building careers and strengthening our communities."

Recent data showing that more than 76,000 Kentucky residents are not working due to a lack of accessible childcare underscores the urgent need for expanded childcare options, like Head Start. This highlights the critical role this apprenticeship program can play in addressing workforce shortages, not just for the 12 apprentices who will begin working at LKLP, but also for parents in the community who need quality childcare so they can go to work, too. 

The apprenticeship contracts were signed on Thursday, Dec. 19 at the LKLP Head Start facility in Hazard. These contracts will provide 12 apprentices with 2,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training, leading to a journey worker credential for early childhood educators. Representatives from EKCEP, KEAS, GOEC, LKLP Head Start, and other key stakeholders attended the event.

EKCEP and LKLP’s Kentucky Career Center services played a crucial role in securing funding for the program and supporting LKLP Head Start in meeting its needs. Melissa Williams, business services coordinator at EKCEP, worked closely with Collett to design this apprenticeship program to help address the gaps in quality childcare and ensure that workers receive adequate training and compensation.

"We are proud to be a part of this historic initiative," said Williams. "This program will not only provide valuable training and credentials to early childhood educators but also help to address the critical need for qualified childcare professionals in our region."

LKLP’s Head Start Director, Justin Collett, is thrilled to launch this innovative program, saying, “We are very excited to begin the registered apprenticeship program. This is an incredible opportunity to increase staff support and professional development. We have had a peer mentor program internally, and it is exciting to participate in this workforce development opportunity. We strive to provide the best quality early childhood education possible and this is an important step in that direction.”

This initiative marks a significant advancement in addressing the childcare shortage in Kentucky, particularly in Eastern Kentucky, where childcare deserts are prevalent. Registered apprenticeships are shown to improve employee retention and ensure top-tier training, creating long-term benefits for both workers and the childcare industry as a whole.

LKLP Executive Director Tawny Acker applauds this opportunity to blaze new trails within the community.

“LKLP is honored to have our Head Start be chosen as a participant in the Registered Apprenticeship Program. We are very excited to sign the first Kentucky on-the-job contract for a registered Apprenticeship in early childhood education,” Acker said. “We appreciate the support of EKCEP and the Governor's Office of Early Childhood and our own LKLP WIOA workforce development staff.”

This Registered Apprenticeship program in Early Childhood Education is a model for other programs across the state. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and the commitment of all stakeholders to strengthen the early childhood education workforce in Kentucky.

EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. The agency provides an array of workforce development services and operates the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, which provide access to more than a dozen state and federal programs that offer employment and training assistance for jobseekers and employers all under one roof. Learn more about us at ekcep.org.