For over 128 years, Early Connections Learning Centers has served as a cornerstone of the Colorado Springs community. However, the modern landscape of early childhood education (ECE) faces unprecedented hurdles: a nationwide workforce shortage, a local freeze on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), and a "skyrocketing" need for social-emotional support for children born during the pandemic.
To meet these challenges, Early Connections has launched a transformative Registered Apprenticeship Program, made possible by a stimulus-funded Small Business Apprenticeship Support Grant through the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
Beyond the Alphabet: A "Grow Your Own" Success Story
At Early Connections Learning Centers, the mission goes beyond early learning and child development. "I want our children to leave our program ready for school with a love for learning," says Brandi Bergh, vice president of center operations at Early Connections. "I also deeply care that they leave feeling loved and supported. If they feel supported, they will be set up for success in kindergarten."
Building that foundation requires a dedicated, highly trained workforce. By utilizing stimulus funds, Early Connections is "growing its own" teachers. This program isn't just filling vacancies; it is breaking down the systemic barriers that often keep passionate educators out of the field.
The Impact of the CWDC Small Business Apprenticeship Support Grant:
- Paid Career Development: All CDA (Child Development Associate) coursework occurs during paid work hours, removing the burden of night classes.
- College Pathways: Upon completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices earn 10 college credits through Pikes Peak State College via credit for prior learning—at no cost to the student.
- Mentorship: Apprentices are paired with veteran teachers, creating a supportive community that fosters confidence and professional pride.
From "Shy" to Empowered
The human impact of the stimulus funding is best seen in the apprentices themselves. Bergh recalls one apprentice who joined the program with a quiet, reserved demeanor. After just a few months of mentorship and hands-on learning, the transformation was undeniable. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, this is a whole new person,'" Bergh says. "To see our apprentices grow in confidence and camaraderie has been incredible."
This growth isn't just personal; it's clinical. Every apprentice is trained in the Pyramid Model, a social-emotional framework critical for modern classrooms. Since 2020, the number of students requiring special services at the centers has jumped from 8 percent to over 30 percent. The stimulus-funded training ensures apprentices aren't overwhelmed, but are instead equipped to help children build the "superhighways" of brain development.
Solving Community Pain Points
The apprenticeship program also serves as a vital safety net during the current CCAP freeze in Colorado Springs. By partnering with organizations like Partners in Housing, Early Connections is identifying individuals who need a career path and providing them with employment, free training, and significant childcare discounts. This "triple-win" helps caretakers enter the workforce while ensuring their own children receive high-quality care.
Looking Ahead
With the first apprentice cohort launched in August, Early Connections is already looking toward the future. A second round of hiring begins in early 2026, with the goal of eventually seeing current apprentices become mentors themselves.
Through the support of the CWDC and stimulus-funded grants, Early Connections is proving that when you invest in the educator, you aren't just filling a job—you are securing the future of the community’s youngest learners.
About the CWDC’s work related to COVID-19 stimulus funding
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) originate from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These funds aim to assist Coloradans who lost their jobs during the pandemic, experienced another type of negative economic impact, as well as those seeking to advance in their current roles or change careers entirely.
The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) led, directed, and stewarded a $60 million package of SLFRF money funded through Colorado House Bill 21-1264. The work supported by these funds has served over 15,000 individuals through Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next Skilling programs at local workforce centers and community-based organizations throughout the state, as well as workforce innovation initiatives—including the Career Navigation and Career Coaching Collaborative, Trade Association Training programs, regional Sector Partnership staffing support, and grants to increase capacity across the state to strengthen training programs and help nonprofit providers and other organizations receive public funding.
The bill’s goal is to provide aid for economic recovery to the people, businesses, and industries most impacted by COVID-19, and aims to improve outcomes for learners and workers and help prepare Coloradans for well-paying, quality jobs of the future. The bill directs funds to individuals who were negatively affected by the pandemic, and emphasizes equity to underserved communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, people with disabilities, New Americans, justice-involved individuals, and older workers; there’s also an emphasis on supporting small businesses.
The CWDC is a Governor-appointed, business-led, public-private partnership with the purpose to advise, oversee, and integrate the work of the Colorado talent development network.