About ECEPTS

Mission

To advance the rigorous professional development and economic well-being of the Early Care and Education workforce so that children reap the full benefits of early learning and care experiences.

Vision

A society that fully respects and supports young children and those who teach and care for them.

Values

Respect | Integrity | Competence | Commitment to Results

Field Building in Action

As part of ECEPTS’ commitment to field building, we participate in statewide and national conferences to share what we’ve learned, encourage others interested in pursuing similar initiatives, and generate broad support for ECE Apprenticeships and innovative workforce development efforts.

Click on the links below to hear Randi Wolfe, Ph.D., Executive Director of ECEPTS, share thoughts about the role of sector intermediaries in the development and ongoing implementation of Youth Apprenticeships.

9:55 – ECEPTS and our role as a sector intermediary

25:20 – Centering apprenticeship work through an equity lens

30:28 – Community colleges as the driver of partnerships

38:09 – Building apprenticeship partnerships & the role of intermediaries

48:09 – The role of sector intermediaries and how to be effective

53:46 – “Who gets to be an intermediary?”

56:16 – Final thoughts

ECEPTS Apprenticeships:
Benefits & Outcomes

Well-Paid Career Trajectory

ECEPTS Apprenticeships recast entry-level ECE positions from being “dead-end jobs” to being on-ramps and springboards to well-paid careers in ECE and various related fields.

Better Compensation

By assuring increased compensation as milestones are achieved, ECEPTS Apprenticeships begin to address the tension between increased ECE professional requirements and lagging wages.

Increased Workforce Diversity

By creating accessible pathways to positions of greater responsibility and income, ECEPTS Apprenticeships help ensure workforce diversity across every level of the ECE career ladder.

Quality ECE For All Children

ECEPTS Apprentices receive training and preparation necessary to develop the strong teacher-child relationships, that are essential in achieving optimal social, emotional, and learning outcomes.

Strengthening Other Fields

ECEPTS Apprentices who later enter other fields (e.g., elementary education, early intervention, healthcare) increase the capacity of those industries because of the foundation in child development and early learning that they bring to their professional roles.

Highly Skilled Workforce

Wherever their careers lead, ECEPTS Apprentices will be better prepared and more successful because of the knowledge, skills, and competencies gained through their apprenticeship experience.

History

Originally developed in partnership with the Early Educator Training Center of the Service Employees International Union, ECEPTS Apprenticeships aim to recast entry level positions in early care and education from being seen as “dead-end jobs” to being on-ramps and springboards to well-paid careers in ECE and a variety of related, respected fields. ECEPTS apprenticeship models address existing education and training gaps by offering innovative, multi-level programs designed to support the success of working adults with structured on-the-job learning, coaching and mentoring, coordinated college coursework with academic supports, professional learning communities, and increased compensation.

Through participation in ECEPTS Apprenticeships, ECE workers earn college credit (at no cost to program participants) that articulates to state-recognized permits and degrees required for higher-wage positions of greater leadership and responsibility. The state and federally registered programs establish a pipeline of qualified workers and a career pathway to self-sufficiency for the nearly 205,000 low-income, mostly female workers who make up the Early Care and Education workforce in California.