Learn and Earn Career Pathway Program
Are you interested in taking part in Learn and Earn?
Click HERE to Start Your Learn and Earn Journey!
First Up has partnered with Public Health Management Corporation’s Professional Development Organization (PHMC PDO) to provide comprehensive support to programs that have teachers currently or are interested in furthering their education through degree attainment. This program is called Learn and Earn Career Pathway Program.
This program is a strategy to address workforce shortages and advance the qualifications of the existing ECE workforce. Learn and Earn helps to reduce workforce barriers and encourages retention. The goal of the program is to offer employed ECE professionals support that will allow them to attain an ECE associate (AA) or bachelor’s (BA) degree. Programs that are enrolled in Learn and Earn are offered educational support and coaching throughout the process. Learn and Earn advancements count towards credit attainment, which expedites the process to complete the degree.
Learn and Earn offers layers of support to programs participating in the program. Our First Up Team individualizes these supports based on program needs. First Up works with the Program, Leadership Team, Student and on-site Coaching. Click HERE to watch a detailed overview of the Learn and Earn Program!
Lunch and Learn with Learn and Earn
Do you have questions about the Learn and Earn Program? Are you interested in applying but don’t know where to start? Join us for the Lunch and Learn virtual information sessions. These FREE sessions are designed to have all your questions answered by Learn and Earn staff. Don’t miss your chance, find out how you can customize your learning path today!
Stay Tuned for Updated Lunch and Learn Dates Soon!
What is the Learn and Earn Program?
A hybrid model to provide comprehensive support to programs that have teachers currently or are interested in furthering their education through degree attainment.
Teachers Learn:
- On the Job in the classroom
- While attending college classes
- Through on-site coaching
Benefits of this program include:
- Leadership Development in alignment with Stars Standards
- Career Advising and PD Registry Support
- Paired Mentorship with other Directors
- Assessing Coach Selection
- Wellness Support
Learn and Earn Provides Support to Students:
- Guidance on continuing their career pathway
- Strength-based Coaching from an onsite colleague (Peer)
- Provide resources according to individual needs
- Time Management support
- Communication connection among partners
Learn and Earn Provides Support to Coaches:
- Coaching guidance from First Up Mentor
- Collaboration on setting action steps and goals in support of students meeting NAEYC competencies
- PQAS certified Strength-Based coaching professional development
- On-going Leadership skill development
- Virtual office hours
Learn and Earn Provides Support to Programs:
- Leadership Development in alignment with Stars Standards
- Career Advising and PD Registry Support
- Paired Mentorship with other Directors
- Assessing Coach Selection
- Wellness Support
Caring for Our Children Recommendations for Professionalizing and Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education Workforce
In the Spring of 2022, The W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation awarded First Up with a grant for First Up to lead the charge to convene a group of stakeholders to discuss the results of the NAEYC Preparing the Professional report. The list of thought partners contains stakeholders that have been a part of building the PA Apprenticeship Program and are deeply committed to advancing the workforce in Pennsylvania. First Up hired an experienced facilitator to lead this group of thought partners virtually over the course of two months in the Spring of 2022. This group reviewed the report, identified challenges and constraints that exist within the IHEs and the ECE ecosystem, including in the current career pathway and credentialling process. The group worked to identify strategies and recommendations that can be included in the PDO strategic plan for funding IHEs, to IHE partners, the Apprenticeship State Sponsor and OCDEL.
First Up has been a valued thought partner in the creation of the apprenticeship model in Pennsylvania. The experience, knowledge and strong partnerships align with the ECE Action Research Fellowship qualifications.
