ELKHART, Ind. --The Indiana Department of Education announced the launch of new apprenticeship opportunity in the state, set to help students jumpstart their future as an early childhood educator.

Officials say in total, 65 students at seven high schools, with some locally at the Elkhart Area Career Center, are participating in the state’s new Early Childhood Education Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program.

The program in Elkhart will be open to students from all over the area have access to the program. This includes students from Concord, Penn, Jimtown, Goshen, and other area high schools.

“Increasing opportunities to explore and pursue future career interests while in high school provides students a more seamless transition to their future, helping them to achieve their unique goals and dreams,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education.

The new apprenticeship program is a partnership between IDOE and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

The program is designed to strengthen career pathways for educators by leveraging competency-based, job-embedded workforce models for students.

The program is funded by the federal Preschool Development Grant.

Officials say participating students will gain experience and credentials of value in the early learning setting while earning high school credit.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship, students can immediately start their career as an early childhood educator or continue in the career pathway to earn a degree.

The program’s curriculum aligns with the Early Childhood Education Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway under Indiana’s Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) and includes a combination of high school courses, dual credit, and dual enrollment options.

Other participating schools include Anderson Community Schools, Greater Lafayette Career Academy, Indianapolis Public Schools, Lewis Cass Schools, Metropolitan School District (MSD) Lawrence Township, and New Albany Floyd County Schools.

You can learn more about the program on the IDOE website.