Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $1.8 Million to Build Talent Pipeline for Early Childhood Educators in Massachusetts

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $1.8 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) to eight organizations to train and place more than 300 apprentices in early childhood education careers across the state. In September, Massachusetts was awarded $5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to partner with employers with the goal of rapidly scaling early childhood education Registered Apprenticeship Programs and creating a Technical Assistance Hub for early childhood education apprenticeships.

Registered Apprenticeship provides individuals with paid work experience including classroom instruction and on-the-job training combined with securing nationally recognized credentials, progressive wage increases, and economic mobility and advancement.

Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones made the announcement at the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Chinatown location. Among grantees, the YMCA Greater Boston received $300,000 to enroll 50 early childhood educator apprentices throughout Greater Boston as well as working with the Alliance of YMCAs to expand into childcare deserts where at least 10 apprentices will be placed.

“Our administration has been committed to expanding the Registered Apprenticeship model into industries like early childhood education so we can strength the talent pipeline,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Through the GROW grants, we’re creating real pathways for educators to learn, earn and advance their careers, while helping providers attract and retain the talent they need. These investments are building a strong early education system, and in turn, a more competitive Massachusetts.”

“Early childhood educators play a critical role in our state’s economic competitiveness,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are proud to support Registered Apprenticeship programs that help educators earn credentials, grow their careers, and stay in the field. The GROW grants allow us to not only invest in the early childhood education workforce but also invest and strengthen our communities across the state.”

The Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) administers the Commonwealth’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs. DAS offers over 500 active programs with more than 10,000 active apprentices. Construction and building trades apprenticeships comprise the majority of programs with nearly a quarter of registered apprentices in expansion industries such as health care, education, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.

“Access to affordable, quality child care is an economic driver, vital support for our workers, and critical to strengthening our competitiveness,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “Registered Apprenticeship is an important piece of the state’s workforce agenda, and the GROW early childhood educator apprenticeship awards are part of the administration’s efforts to make child care more affordable and accessible by helping build a pipeline of early childhood educators.”

Expanding registered apprenticeship for early childhood education is a priority among the Administration’s “whole of government” Early Education and Child Care Task Force recommendations. The Division of Apprentice Standards and the Department of Early Education and Care have worked collaboratively over the past year to engage and scale registered apprenticeship.

“These investments in early childhood education apprenticeships reflect our shared commitment to economic mobility, workforce readiness, and building a stronger future for Massachusetts families,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “These grants will help child care programs grow, strengthen employer partnerships, and offer more support to our entire early education and care system.”

“Strengthening the early educator pipeline is a top priority, and apprenticeship is one of the most powerful tools we have,” said Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler. “These grants help providers grow their teams, stabilize staffing, and support the working families who depend on reliable child care.”

“We are so proud to be able to offer this support to early childhood education – the workforce behind the workforce,” said Director of the Division of Apprentice Standards Lara Thomas. “These grants will help communities across the Commonwealth grow their own talented educators and create meaningful career pathways while allowing working parents to feel even more confident about the quality of care that is being provided.”

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to growing Registered Apprenticeship opportunities marks a significant step forward for the Massachusetts early education and care workforce,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “Through collaboration with our state and national partners, we’re creating stronger pathways that allow educators to earn as they learn, advance in their careers, and achieve lasting economic stability — all while helping to increase families’ access to high-quality early education and care across the Commonwealth.”

GROW Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Grant Recipients:

The following is a list of the 8 grant recipients, totaling $1.8 million projected to register, hire, and place 302 apprentices:

City of Cambridge (Cambridge): $100,000 to register new 18-month, full-time apprenticeship program and enroll a cohort of 25 out of school time apprentices to be placed across Cambridge.

Community Day Care of Lawrence (Lawrence): $673,984 grant to enroll four cohorts of 20 apprentices each into early childhood educator positions across the Merrimack Valley over 3 years.

Family Services of Central MA (Worcester): $98,175 to train and place 15 early childhood educator apprentices to staff entry-level positions in the identified childcare desert of Worcester County.

For Kids Only (Winthrop): $300,000 to enroll a minimum of 57 out of school time apprentices in three cohorts over 3 years at locations in Winthrop, Revere, Quincy and Framingham.

G3 Works (Methuen): $99,900 to register new registered apprenticeship in early childhood education and recruit and train 30 new early childhood educator apprentices to work in communities identified as childcare deserts in Northeastern and Southeastern MA.

MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board (Pittsfield): $198,375 to register a new early childhood education registered apprenticeship and enroll 3 cohorts of 10 apprentices in identified childcare desert of Berkshire County over three years.

MassHire Hampden County (Springfield): $83,916 to register a new early childhood education apprenticeship and enroll 15 apprentices in identified childcare desert of Springfield as well as Holyoke and Chicopee.

YMCA Greater Boston (Boston): $300,000 to enroll 50 early childhood educator apprentices throughout Greater Boston as well as working with the Alliance of YMCAs to expand into other childcare deserts where at least 10 apprentices will be placed.

The Commonwealth continues to accept applications for apprenticeship program funding for Fiscal Year 2026. For more information, visit www.commbuys.com.    

Statements of Support

Senator Jacob Oliveira, Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Chair
"Building a strong early education workforce is fundamental to the Commonwealth's economic future. These GROW grants will give more residents a real pathway into the field through paid, hands-on training that leads to credentials and long-term careers. I’m proud to see the Registered Apprenticeship model expanding into early childhood education, where the need is urgent, and the impact is immediate. This investment will strengthen our workforce, support working families, and ensure more children can access high-quality early learning no matter where they live."

Representative Paul McMurtry, Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Chair
"There's no better way to deliver lifelong economic opportunities for both our early learners and our dedicated childcare providers. I applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration's continued commitment of the transformative Registered Apprenticeship Program."

David Shapiro, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston
“It is such an honor for the Wang YMCA to play host to this exciting EOLWD announcement of the GROW ECE grants. The YMCA of Greater Boston was proud to create one of the first Early Education Apprenticeship ‘learn while you earn’ programs in the Commonwealth with the lead partnership of the state and private funders. We have seen a transformative impact on our apprentices, graduates, staff teams, and ultimately, young learners and their families. This latest investment in Registered Apprenticeships allows for even further scale and impact across the grantees further creating, widening, and strengthening education and employment pathways to opportunity. Included in this GROW support, we will work alongside the Massachusetts Alliance of YMCAs and Ys across the state to scale this model—particularly in communities experiencing childcare deserts. We are grateful for this partnership and excited about the lasting impact it will have on the quality of early education, economic mobility of early educators, and families across Greater Boston.”

Maria Gonzalez Moeller, Chief Executive Officer – The Community Group
“Combining hands-on, paid job experience with academic learning available in multiple languages, TCG's early childhood apprenticeship program is a critical workforce support that is helping to strengthen the field of early education.  The GROW grant will help many more dedicated and passionate individuals to enter a sustainable career in early childhood, ensure programs have experienced and knowledgeable teachers in every classroom, and advance the quality of early childhood education in our region.”

Leslie Baker, Program Director, Center for Childcare Careers – Seven Hills Foundation, Family Services of Central MA
“Having been a long-standing Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor, we at the Seven Hills Foundation understand that the GROW ECE Grant is not just funding-it is fuel for our future, helping us support new apprentices who will shape the early education workforce for many years to come.”

Heather Boulger, Executive Director – Berkshire County Reg. Employment Board, Inc. DBA MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board
“The GROW ECE Grant opens the door for MassHire Berkshire’s first Registered Apprenticeship Program, giving new early childhood educators the runway for structured training, support and long-term careers in our community.”

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