Apprenticeship Program
The Keiki O Ka ʻĀina ECE Registered Apprenticeship Program
Hawaiʻi’s early care and education (ECE) workforce is undervalued and underpaid, leading to critical staff shortages. Early learning registered apprenticeship programs (ELRAPs) are a proven recruitment and retention strategy, offering apprentices higher compensation and valuable on-the-job learning experiences as they work towards earning a higher education degree. ELRAPs have also been successful at increasing the quality of early learning programs as they develop a well-prepared, well-educated, and well-compensated ECE workforce.
Hawai‘i’s first ELRAP was established in 2023 between Honolulu Community College (HonCC) and Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Family Learning Center (KOKA). Through the academic program at HonCC, apprentices’ paid OTJ hours count towards the three milestones along their academic pathway– acquiring a CDA, then ECE certificate, then AS degree in ECE (FFYF, 2024). Upon completion of each milestone, apprentices receive a Nationally Recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship from the DOLIR, and an increase in their starting pay of $17-19. Each apprentice stays with their employer full-time the duration of their coursework of one class per semester, in addition to receiving guidance from an on-site mentor. Other wrap-around services offered by HonCC include counseling and advising, tutoring, technology loans, a children’s center, food assistance, and transportation support. Since its launch, the program has already taken on four KOKA employees as apprentices.