In 2021, Milwaukee launched the Dual Enrollment Preschool Technical Diploma program using $309,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The program is a partnership between local high schools, the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, and Next Door, a Milwaukee early education nonprofit.
Dual Enrollment Academy (DEA) participants receive college-level training to begin careers in early childhood education. In their senior year, DEA students earn both high school and college credits through in-person, virtual, and experiential learning experiences, with the goal of earning a Preschool Technical Diploma by graduation. Students pay no tuition for the program’s 18 credits, and they receive a free computer, free books, and free transportation to MATC and partner sites.
Credits earned through DEA can also be applied to MATC programs in the future, shortening the time and reducing the cost of completing a technical diploma or associate degree at MATC.
Sources:
City of Milwaukee City Clerk Communications Center. (2021, October 15). Committee recommends approval of early childhood education investment.
Milwaukee Area Technical College. (n.d.). Dual Enrollment Academy for High School Seniors.
Connections to Key Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) Findings:
The early education workforce is the foundation upon which all daily work and any expansion and quality improvement efforts rest. Research suggests that states and cities should invest in the workforce across all early education setting types, focusing on enhancing educators’ professional learning, compensation, and workplace conditions.
Findings from the Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) show:
- Early educators play a critical role in supporting the well-being of young children and families across setting types.
- Yet their pay, benefits, and other professional supports are often inadequate in light of the job demands and their cost of living.