The Early Childhood Service Corps will train adults over the age of 50 to be classroom volunteers or business advisors to childcare centers.
The nonprofit, Experience Engaged, believes that it has a solution to the shortage in early childhood education teachers, by hiring and training older adults.
A separate program will certify adults to be early education teachers.
The University of Colorado – Denver will provide two virtual courses to be completed between January and May of 2022. The goal is to have a new workforce ready by summer of 2022.
The goal is to have a new workforce ready by summer of 2022.
Armao said for every open childcare spot in Colorado, there are three to five children waiting for the spot due to shortage in both providers and staff.
Directors are spending an inordinate amount of time in classrooms, so the business of running their businesses isn’t getting done. — Armao
Other early childhood advocates in Colorado have echoed Armao’s concerns that as Colorado expands access to free preschool, childcare centers may not be able to hire enough staff. Early educators earn less than K-12 teachers, but advocates have been pushing for federal pandemic funding to be used to increase salaries.
Armao said the pandemic highlighted the importance of quality early education not only for children’s development, but to support the entire economy.
I think it’s about time that it’s gotten the attention that it deserves, because we now know that it’s really hard to work from home and have your toddler in your lap and in all your zoom shots
Did you see Emily Tate’s Edsurge article on Universal Preschool being the winner of the 2020 election? It’s an important read while also remembering that universal preschool needs to be grounded in child development, incorporate hours of unguided, self-directed, play for children. You can read Dr. Dale Farran’s blog post for DEY where she talks about the findings of her 10-year study in Tennessee.