Fast Track is Returning to Ready Region Southside
Center for Early Success Announces the Return of Early Educator Fast Track to Ready Region Southside
The Center for Early Success is thrilled to announce that the Early Educator Fast Track initiative is returning to Ready Region Southside.
Are you passionate about shaping young minds and looking for a rewarding career in early childhood education? Or are you a childcare provider needing dedicated, well-trained staff to enhance your program?
The Early Educator Fast Track initiative is here to help! This program offers aspiring teachers hands-on training, competitive pay, and professional growth while enabling childcare sites to fill crucial positions, improve staff morale, and expand their capacity to serve families. Join us in building a brighter future for our community!
Originally launched by VECF, Fast Track is an apprenticeship program designed to give individuals interested in childcare careers the opportunity to receive hands-on training while gaining foundational knowledge in early childhood education.
Benefits for Trainees (Prospective Teachers)
Participants in the Fast Track program receive:
- Employment opportunities (minimum 30 hours/week) starting at $15/hour.
- Bonuses totaling at least $1,500.
- A loaner laptop for training and college coursework.
- Paid training and ongoing mentorship.
- Professional development opportunities.
- A sense of personal and professional fulfillment.
Note: This initiative is not open to individuals currently employed by a childcare center or family day home. If you are already working in an early childhood care and education setting, you are not eligible to apply.
Benefits for Employers (Childcare Sites)
Employers participating in the Fast Track program receive:
- A targeted recruitment campaign
- Candidate screening and Interview support
- Interactive, online Intro to Early Childhood training
- Compensation for four weeks at full-time training
- Retention bonuses of $1500 for each new full-time employee
Benefits:
- Alleviate stress on current staff and improve overall morale.
- Expand classroom capacity and operate at full enrollment potential.
- Avoid turning families (and revenue) away due to staffing shortages.
New assistant teachers:
- Receive great training
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Pass required background checks
- Are eligible for employment in the U.S.
- Have English proficiency
- Commit to one year (minimum) employment
Economic and Community Benefits
Fast Track not only strengthens the early childhood workforce but also supports the economic development of communities by:
- Helping childcare employers fill vacant positions, enabling more parents to return to full-time work.
- Reducing unemployment rates and increasing tax revenue.
- Providing families with safe, reliable childcare options.
Addressing the Childcare Workforce Crisis
The nationwide shortage of childcare professionals has deeply impacted programs across the country, including those in Ready Region Southside. Organizations like the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Center for Early Success are actively working to find sustainable solutions to ensure families have access to childcare when they need it most. Fast Track is one such solution.
Fast Track is more than just an apprenticeship, it’s a pathway to meaningful careers and stronger communities.
The Center for Early Success will sponsor information sessions for interested employers on Wednesdays at 9:00 am and on Fridays at 1:00 pm.
For more information, contact Renee Watkins at 434-797-8887 ext. 104