Program Participation APPRENTICE RECRUITMENT Camp Fire First Texas recruited the initial cohort of apprentices in collaboration with partners to spread awareness of the new opportunity. Staff visited childcare centers and recruited teachers during staff meetings or lunch hours, held virtual interest sessions, and worked to develop broad awareness of EEAP among early childhood educators. Camp Fire specified preferred participant criteria to guide apprentice selection, giving priority access to teachers from centers in good standing with a Texas Rising Star rating of 3 or 4 who have been in the field at least one year. Potential apprentices also needed positive references and support of their host site (i.e., current center) director. Apprentices agreed to attend EEAP’s professional development courses, complete all coursework and activities, meet regularly with their assigned mentor, and stay employed at their host site for one year after graduating from the program. In exchange, apprentices would obtain Camp Fire’s assistance with negotiating wage increases from their host site and provide education, professional development, mentoring, and support for credentialing. With program progress and demonstrated competency, apprentices would receive up to $2,000 in stipends over the course of the program.
APPRENTICE MOTIVATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION At program entry, each apprentice was interviewed by the EEAP director to learn about their professional goals, interest in early childhood as a career, and potential to successfully complete the program. Of the eighteen apprentices for which information on motivation is recorded, 50% indicated they were motivated by career advancement. Career goals among apprentices include “own my own center,” “work in a school district,” “write curriculum,” and “stability and advancement.” An additional 39% indicate they were motivated to the opportunity to further their education with a CDA, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree. The remaining 11% sought informal education and improvement, including “different methods to teach.”
STIPENDS
$500 New CDA (or $125 CDA renewal)
$500 Complete EEI
$1,000 DoL Child Care Development Specialist credential
Early Education Apprenticeship Program CAMP FIRE SCHOOL READINESS & EARLY EDUCATION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM | 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR EVALUATION REPORT
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