MWCC Awarded Early Childhood Career Pathways Grant for Fiscal Year 2024

Mount Wachusett Community College is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has appropriated $515,055 for Fiscal Year 2024 to continue funding the Early Childhood Career Pathways Grant program.

The Early Childhood Career Pathways Grant aims to help interested students and early childhood educators advance their careers. The mission of the grant program is to help alleviate the early childhood educator shortage and increase the education levels of educators already in the field. Students receive free courses, books, and the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification visit and exam required to earn the CDA credential. English-language tutoring support and one-on-one advising is also provided. The program goal is to service 120 students in Fiscal Year 2024.

“We are thrilled to receive continued funding for this vital program,” stated Grant Coordinator Jonie Latimer-Brady. “We not only have been able to help students earn their CDA credential, but many have continued on to earn their Early Childhood Education certificate.”

Funds will also be used to increase the number of Spanish-speaking instructors and advisors for the new Spanish language college level ECE Certificate program. Students will earn their EEC Lead teacher certification by starting with courses that are taught in Spanish and will take a contextualized college level ESOL course concurrently.

To learn more about the ECE Career Pathways program and determine eligibility, visit https://mwcc.edu/early-childhood-education-career-pathways/