TDLWD Partners with Lipscomb University for a First-of-Its-Kind Program
Partnership Will Create an Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Hub in Nashville
TDLWD Commissioner Deniece Thomas and Lipscomb University President Candice McQueen visit a classroom at the Little Wonders Early Learning Center in Nashville.
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) has partnered with Lipscomb University in Nashville to create the state’s first Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Hub.
This innovative partnership addresses a growing workforce need by offering a tuition-free pathway to a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education while providing hands-on training for aspiring teachers.
Lipscomb’s Foundations to Futures program will serve as the model for preparing early childhood educators through a paid apprenticeship. Participants will earn while they learn, completing online coursework while working in early learning settings. Tuition, books, and related costs are fully covered for qualifying students.
“This isn’t just an education issue, it’s a workforce issue that impacts families and employers across Tennessee,” said TDLWD Commissioner Deniece Thomas. “Reliable childcare is essential to a functioning economy. By investing in early educators, we’re strengthening our workforce from the ground up.”
Only 30% of childcare center-based early educators hold a bachelor’s degree nationwide, contributing to persistent staffing shortages and reduced access to quality childcare. This new apprenticeship model aims to remove the barriers to education that many individuals face, which will help build a pipeline of well-trained professionals ready to meet the growing demand.
“By equipping early childhood educators with the skills and knowledge they need, we can profoundly impact generations of young learners and ensure they have the strongest start possible,” said Lipscomb President Candice McQueen.
The program is set to launch this fall, pending final approval from the Tennessee Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Little Wonders Early Learning Center in Nashville will serve as the initial employer partner, and additional partnerships are under development across the region.
The goal is to use the best practices from this innovative program at Lipscomb to create similar programs across Tennessee.