Career Advancement
Supporting Early Educators and Administrators through Apprenticeship, Training Programs, and Degree Support
Early education is among the lowest paid jobs in Massachusetts and across the United States.
Educators deserve not only higher wages but also professional development opportunities that recognize them as the professionals they are. We’ve successfully launched multiple programs to address this challenge.
Apprenticeship
Neighborhood Villages operates a cost-free Registered Apprenticeship program that invests in early educators’ professional development and ongoing advancement in the field. Our program, in partnership with Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, is now the largest in Massachusetts and the first in the country to graduate a class of early educators working to achieve their goal of becoming a program Director.
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Child Development Associate Credential Apprenticeship Program
We developed this program to provide assistant teachers or teachers who are new to the field with a no-cost pathway to achieve their CDA.
Recruitment for the 2025 cohort is NOW OPEN!
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Early Childhood Emerging Leaders Apprenticeship
We developed the Early Childhood Emerging Leaders Program (ECEL) to empower lead teachers or administrators with high-quality support and training in leadership competency development.
Recruitment for the 2025 cohort is NOW OPEN!
Career Navigation
In addition to our Apprenticeship programs, Neighborhood Villages provides early educators with holistic support in professional development plans and career navigation and advancement. Our Workforce team supports educators across Boston and the Commonwealth with personalized one-on-one guidance through the process of enrolling in training programs and college courses, toward achieving advanced credentials and higher-education degrees.
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Lead Teacher Program
Earn Lead Teacher qualifications through college courses at one of our partner colleges! Program enrollment cycle operates with rolling admission. New terms start every 2 months.
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Degree Support
Receive customized support to enroll in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program.
Connect with an advisor to learn more about our year-round program enrollment cycle.
Workforce In the News
View Neighborhood Villages' commitment to Equal Employment Opportunities here.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey took the podium alongside U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at the inaugural National Child Care Innovation Summit.