Washtenaw Community College is playing a leading role in a new statewide initiative designed to address Michigan’s early childhood educator shortage, providing accessible pathways that help current and aspiring educators earn credentials and degrees while continuing to work.
Through a partnership with the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI) and Northern Michigan University (NMU), WCC is the only community college partner in the newly launched MiEarly Apprentice program.
The initiative comes at a critical time. Nearly 98% of Michigan ZIP codes are classified as childcare deserts, and more than 150,000 childcare slots remain unfilled due to staffing shortages. To meet the state’s PreK for all goals, Michigan will need approximately 4,000 additional early childhood teachers.
WCC: A Critical Entry Point into the Educator Pipeline
MiEarly Apprentice provides four no-cost certification pathways — including the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, associate degree completion, bachelor’s degree plus lead teacher certification and lead teacher certification only.
At WCC, students enrolled through MiEarly Apprentice pursue their CDA and associate degrees as part of the program’s structured pathway. Approximately 80 students are currently enrolled at WCC through the program, with enrollment expected to increase in the Summer and Fall terms.
Importantly, tuition for these students is covered through the program’s “Last Dollar In” funding model, which leverages existing public funds and additional support to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for participants.
While WCC is part of the program’s pre-apprenticeship phase, students move into registered apprenticeships during their bachelor’s degree year. The model allows candidates to maintain employment while completing coursework, reducing financial barriers and strengthening retention.
An Innovative 3+1 Bachelor’s Pathway
A hallmark of the initiative is an innovative 3+1 partnership between WCC and Northern Michigan University. Students complete three years at WCC before transferring 100% of their credits to NMU to finish their bachelor’s degree and teacher certification online.
The model saves students more than $36,000 compared to traditional program designs and allows candidates to complete student teaching in their own communities.
“We know these kinds of candidate-focused innovations are essential to recruiting and retaining more teachers in early childhood,” said Beth Marshall, WCC’s early childhood program coordinator. “This program is an exciting opportunity for WCC to demonstrate what’s possible with strong partnerships.”
Dr. Brandon Tucker, WCC’s Executive Vice President for Instruction, emphasizes the broader impact of the partnership.
“Community colleges have a critical role to play in our state. … If we’re going to be effective in our mission we must find ways to be innovative in partnering with other institutions, creating nonprofits like MEWI and those who lead schools and early childhood education centers,” Tucker said.
“MiEarly Apprentice is an opportunity to expand WCC’s presence and impact across the state. If we can lighten the burden, financially and logistically, for future teachers, we are here to meet that charge,” Tucker said.
Building on Talent Together Momentum
MiEarly Apprentice operates under the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative umbrella, which also includes the ongoing Talent Together teacher preparation program. WCC has previously partnered with MEWI to expand access to educator preparation pathways, reinforcing the college’s commitment to strengthening Michigan’s teacher workforce at every stage.
Since its soft launch in January 2025, MiEarly Apprentice has enrolled nearly 200 candidates statewide, representing more than 90 early childhood employers and six post-secondary partners.
As the program expands into additional counties, WCC’s role as the sole community college partner positions the college as a key access point for early childhood educators seeking affordable, stackable credentials.
A Statewide Solution with Local Roots
By combining tuition-free pathways, flexible coursework, personalized support and innovative university transfer agreements, WCC and its partners are helping build a sustainable pipeline of early childhood educators —one that strengthens communities, supports working families, and advances Michigan’s vision for universal pre-K.
Those interested in participating in the MiEarly Apprentice program can learn more and submit an interest form at miedworkforce.org/mi-early-apprentice.
Tags: Apprenticeships, Early Childhood Education, Teacher Preparation, Workforce