12 Mar BPC Action Applauds Senate Introduction of the Early Educators Apprenticeship Act in Education and Workforce

BPC Action commends Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) for their introduction of the Early Educators Apprenticeship Act.

Early learning teachers have an undeniable impact on a child’s development, as demonstrated by decades of child development research. In order to maximize early learning investments, it is crucial that the United States develop innovative solutions to improve the quality of the early learning workforce. Registered apprenticeships combine classroom instruction, on-the-job training, mentorship, and wage increases in a community-derived program. This flexible model for both incumbent and new educators improves the knowledge, skills, and abilities in the early childhood workforce. By establishing a grant program specifically for early childhood education apprenticeships, this bipartisan legislation will help ensure that child care workers can access a pathway to career advancement.

Further, we are excited to see an exception to allow individuals access to a USDA home loan if they have a child care business. The current exclusion presents a major challenge to child care providers in rural areas who are much more likely to be home-based, and this change would help improve the supply and quality of child care around the country.

We applaud Senators Young, Casey, and Capito for introducing this legislation and are pleased to see them working in a bipartisan manner to improve the skills and capabilities of such a critical workforce.