The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) recently celebrated 111 new educators who completed the Assistant Teacher Pathway, nearly triple the number from the program's first cohort of 41 in 2023. The achievement marks significant progress in addressing the critical shortage of qualified early childhood educators.

"As we welcome these new educators to the profession and celebrate the career advancement of their peers, I am filled with hope for the future of early childhood education in L.A. County," said Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo. "Thanks to the UPK-CDI and our key partnerships, we are able to empower program participants, including many Head Start parents, to realize their dream of becoming educators and help families pave the way toward better economic opportunities."

The ceremony held on May 16 also recognized 101 additional individuals who completed one of four other pathways that have since launched: Associate Teacher, Teacher, Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, and Family Development Credential. This includes more than 30 educators who began in the first Assistant Teacher Pathway cohorts and have now advanced to earn their Teacher Permit.

Since launching the Universal PreKindergarten Career Development Initiative (UPK-CDI) in April 2022, LACOE has supported more than 80 individuals, primarily Head Start parents, to return to the workforce as fully qualified preschool assistant teachers, while helping many current educators advance their careers.

The initiative was created to address the severe nationwide early childhood education staff shortage by providing supportive pathways for current and prospective early educators to meet coursework, on-the-job training, and permitting requirements to work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and transitional kindergarteners.

"It's serendipitous that this year's event coincided with Head Start's 60th anniversary," added Luis Bautista, Head Start and Early Learning Division Executive Director. "The initiative started as an opportunity for Head Start parents to return to the workforce, and many of our new assistant teachers are still Head Start parents. While we have expanded to include transitional kindergarten and other providers, UPK-CDI retains Head Start's two-generational approach to empowering whole families."

Through LACOE's partnerships with West L.A. College, East L.A. College, and more than a dozen school districts and nonprofit early childhood education providers, UPK-CDI removes barriers to career entry and advancement. The program covers tuition and other costs, provides on-the-job training stipends and offers personalized support from staff. The teaching pathways operate through partnerships with West L.A. College and East L.A. College, while the Family Development Credential program is offered through the University of Connecticut.

The program continues to grow, with an additional pathway recently launched for high school seniors and young adults interested in early childhood education careers. The UPK-CDI program will be highlighted on PBS KVIE's Inside California Education in fall 2025.

Current or prospective educators interested in any UPK-CDI pathway should contact hselupkcdi@lacoe.edu for more information.