HSEL Workforce Development & Professional Learning Team (WDPL) is pleased to announce the launch of the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Career Development Initiative (UPK-CDI). UPK-CDI is designed to recruit and retain early childhood educators through an innovative fast-track career development pathway approach. Between September and October 2022, two career development pathways will begin.

  1. Assistant Teacher Pathway – LACOE will enroll a cohort of current and former (one year out of the program) Head Start and Early Head Start parents into an apprenticeship program in collaboration with West LA College to assist parents in obtaining 12 ECE units and a Child Development Associate Teacher Permit while simultaneously gaining on-the-job work experience.
  2. Family Service Pathway – Family services, parent involvement, and home visitor staff and qualified parents have an opportunity to participate in a Family Development Credential (FDC) and Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification program that will benefit their professional advancement.

More career development pathways are soon to come!

For more information about the UPK-CDI, please contact Tonya Omar, HS Child Development & Education Specialist, at omar_tonya@lacoe.edu.