Issue Brief: Apprenticeships — A New Pathway for Early Childhood Professionals

Early childhood care and education keeps Nebraska parents engaged and productive in the workforce. Yet challenges remain in recruiting and retaining skilled child care staff statewide. To help remedy these challenges, stakeholders in Nebraska are developing registered apprenticeships for early childhood professionals. Apprenticeship programs blend classroom instruction with on-the-job training, leading to higher pay, postsecondary credentials/degrees and recognized industry skillsets. FFN’s issue brief provides a detailed overview of apprenticeship strategies for developing the early childhood professional workforce.