Snohomish County's Youth Early Childhood Education Career Pathways program, an initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of child care providers, is celebrating the graduation of its first cohort and is set to expand to four more school districts this fall. Funded by the County’s federal American Rescue Score Plan React allocation, the program has proven a hands-on opportunity, giving high school students vital in-classroom experience in early childhood education. Executive Dave Somers, in an announcement mentioned by Snohomish County's official site, stated that they're leveraging federal investments to help mitigate the county's critical child care facilities and provider shortage.
Recent data from the Washington State Employment Security Department indicated a dramatic loss of over 1,100 providers in the marketplace, stating that Snohomish County has experienced a 25 percent dip in its childcare workforce during the pandemic. The program's expansion includes Arlington, Granite Falls, Monroe, and Sultan school districts, with a focus on areas where child care access is significantly limited. "Early Childhood Education is a high priority of mine," Snohomish County Council Chair Jared Mead told Snohomish County's news release. The new districts represent more rural parts of North and East Snohomish County where child care access is severely challenged.
Students involved in the program complete 120 classroom hours aligned with Everett Community College’s Early Childhood Education Initial Certification curriculum to support dual enrollment and state certification requirements. This first cohort gained practical experience at Pathfinder Kindergarten Center in the Mukilteo School District. Wes Allen, Director of Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center, expressed excitement over the partnership with Snohomish County, “Through this partnership, we look to prepare our graduating students to address the deficit while getting them to college with the high school credits and industry recognized credentials that will positively impact their future.”
The initiative is already showing success as the inaugural five-student cohort is set for graduation. All graduates over eighteen are scheduled to take the Washington State Para Educator Exam in June and have secured summer work at local establishments like the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA. They are also planning to attend college in the fall, with several pursuing degrees in early childhood education. “Because of the partnership with the County to fund this new program, we are providing not just a winning opportunity, but a win-win-win experience. It is a win for the Sno-Isle TECH students to receive district-supported on-the-job training; it is a win for the kindergarten students to have additional adults to engage with and learn from; and it’s a win for the district and community to benefit from students who enter the workforce with the training and experience, ready to further their careers in education,” Dr. Alison Brynelson, Superintendent of the Mukilteo School District, was quoted in the same official release.
