The TEACH Early Childhood® National Center at Early Years provides leadership in the early childhood education field to states across the country and to our nation’s policymakers on the critical importance and value of an educated, well-paid and stable early childhood workforce to ensure the long term success of our nation’s children in school and in life. In North Carolina? Visit TEACH NC or WAGE$ NC. In a different state and want to learn more? Read Making the Case for WAGE$ in Your State or Making the Case for TEACH in Your State.
Explore Our Work
State Contacts
Find the right contact in your state for the TEACH Early Childhood® Program and/or Child Care WAGE$® Program.
Policy Work
TEACH Early Childhood® and Child Care WAGE$® strengthen supports for early childhood compensation, education and career pathways and transforming the workforce. Learn more through our series of policy briefs.
Early Years National Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program
Early Years and its TEACH Early Childhood® National Division have developed an apprenticeship program for early childhood educators approved by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship and will be launching a pilot program for states interested this summer.
TEACH Early Childhood® National Center News
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Community Comes Together to Address North Carolina’s Child Care Crisis
North Carolina’s community came together in Carrboro on March 26, 2025, to view the documentary, Take Care, and to participate in a discussion on how to create lasting solutions that […] -
Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program: A Pathway to Build Competencies and Pay
In North Carolina and across the country, the child care industry is struggling to recruit and retain workers. It’s a tight labor market and child care programs report difficulty in paying wages that are competitive with other community employers (such as Target or Walmart or McDonalds). Unlike other local employers, child care programs are looking for individuals who have a passion for working with children and also have early childhood competencies important for a business based on promoting the healthy development of children. -
Early Years to Launch National Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program
This fall, Early Years ’s TEACH Early Childhood® National Center (National Center) will launch a pilot apprenticeship program in six states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Arkansas Early Childhood Association, Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance of Colorado, Child Care Aware® of Minnesota, Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association, Pennsylvania Child Care Association and Wisconsin Early Childhood Association will work with the National Center to develop pilot apprenticeship programs.