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ELC HELPS TO STAFF THE FUTURE WITH SUCCESSFUL
PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Palmetto, Florida, November 29th, 2023 – The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) and Manatee Technical College (MTC) teamed up in the spring of 2022 to launch the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program's Pre-Apprenticeship course to help close the employment gap at child care centers in Manatee County. This course provides the necessary training for students to start at an entry-level position within the child care industry.
The Pre-Apprenticeship course provides hands-on classroom instruction with a mock child care lab for students to fully immerse themselves in the role of a teacher. Over the course of 15 weeks, students will receive the mandatory 45 DCF hours required for their staff credential, first aid, CPR, inclusion training, PEARLS training, and more. In addition to these, the MTC students are also taught soft skills, such as resume writing and interviewing skills. Students also attend tours and job shadowing at various child care facilities in the community.
The hope in creating the Pre-Apprenticeship course was to make a new career as accessible and affordable as possible while also helping to staff Manatee County child care centers. Students secure a position at one of the local child care providers after completing the 15-week course and then continue their education and career development with the Level I Apprenticeship course and eventually the Director course.
Now, after the fall 2023 Pre-Apprenticeship course, 32 students have successfully completed the program, 6 have continued on to the Level I Apprenticeship course in the ECE program, and more have applied to continue their education in the coming semesters. All of these students are now employed at child care centers across Manatee County, and those continuing their education are employed full-time while attending evening classes. The job placement rate after completing the course is 100%.
"I am so grateful for the support of this program. I really think we are making a difference in the early childhood field," stated AnnaMaria Mascherino Carleton, an ECE instructor at MTC.
Darrell King, CEO of ELC, said: "This has been a fantastic outcome for the students, providers, and our community. I am proud of all of our partners for the success of this program and thankful for the students who have taken part. We all play an integral part in the educational success of these young learners, and it starts at the child care level."
For more information regarding the Pre-Apprenticeship Program, contact Francesca Ricciardo at fricciardo@elc-manatee.org or call (941) 212-4994.
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