Page 26 - BusinessWest June 10, 2024

“We know that far too many parents find it difficult to return to the workforce because of
the high cost
of childcare,
and providers are facing
the difficult decision between continuing in the profession they love or leaving for a higher-paid career.”
workforce.”
The pipeline has been solid at Square One, DiStefano said. “Why do people want to work here? It’s not like our kids are
any easier than other kids; they’re all children. But a lot of it has to do with the culture and environment at Square One. We invest in you early on, whether as a young person, just starting out in your career, or as an older adult with a midlife change of heart.”
While entry-level wages aren’t the main draw in any early- education setting, she added, Square One lays out the long- term picture. “We say, ‘here’s the career pathway. Here’s what it looks like, and we’ll be flexible with your schedule, if you want to take advantage of free classes at HCC and STCC.’”
Indeed, in recent years, the state has been actively invest- ing in early education in a number of ways, including free pro- grams at its 15 community colleges through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care’s (EEC) Career Path- ways Grant.
One of those, the Family Childcare Institute at Springfield Technical Community College, is currently running June 3 through July 9.
“This is a three-course bundle that will help new family childcare providers get licensed and learn how to run a child- care program in their home,” said Nancy Ward, Career Path- ways Grant and Activity director at STCC. “We see this as a great opportunity for anyone who wants to open their own home-based childcare center.”
Christopher Thuot, vice president of Academic Affairs at STCC, added that such programs reduce barriers to help peo- ple in the community obtain an education. “The flexibility of the program accommodates individuals with varying schedules and commitments.”
State of Urgency
Meanwhile, applications for the state’s Early Childhood Educators scholarship are now open for the 2024-25 academic year. This scholarship is available for educators who work at
programs licensed and/or funded by the EEC, including center- based, family childcare, and out-of-school-time programs.
And for the first time, the scholarship is available for staff who work at residential programs licensed by the EEC. The application process has also been simplified, and eligible majors have been expanded to better support career pathways for out-of-school-time educators.
“Our administration is fully committed to supporting and expanding the early-education and care workforce. When pro- grams have high-quality educators, they can offer better care
to even more families,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “I know these important changes to the Early Childhood Educators scholar- ship will strengthen our supports for our hardworking after- school educators and residential program staff, positively rein- forcing a pipeline of high-quality early-education professionals.”
More than 500 scholarships were awarded for the 2023-
24 academic year, an increase over the number awarded in
the previous year. As of this year, the scholarship now covers additional majors, including human services, psychology, social work, elementary education, and special education.
“Our Early Childhood Educators scholarship supports educators and program leaders to advance their careers and ensure that our youngest learners are receiving the highest- quality education they deserve, setting them up for school and lifetime success,” Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler said. “I am grateful to our departments of Early Education and Care and Higher Education for their partnership and collaboration with early educators and community partners in making this scholarship even better, reflecting current higher-education pathways and expanding access in a simpler way.”
As noted earlier, the state has also established the Early Education and Child Care Task Force, recognizing the role childcare plays in driving the state’s economy and competitive- ness — at a time when keeping residents and businesses from fleeing the Commonwealth, for reasons ranging from housing to cost of living, has become a significant concern.
“We know that far too many parents find it difficult to return to the workforce because of the high cost of childcare, and pro-
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