Durham Tech Launched Child Care Training Program

The Early Educator Academy addressed local labor shortages by preparing workers for early childhood roles.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Child Care

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of wooden building blocks and a small abacus, representing the early childhood education training program. — Durham Technical Community College and Early Years have launched a new training program to address local child care workforce shortages. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In summer 2025, Durham Technical Community College and Early Years launched a training program to bolster the local child care workforce. Supported by $1.5 million from the North Carolina General Assembly, the initiative provides a credentialing path for aspiring teachers.

Why it matters

This initiative attempts to mitigate significant workforce shortages in the child care sector, which has struggled with site closures. By offering a streamlined credentialing process, it aims to stabilize a crucial service for local families.

The academy offers a six-to-eight-week online curriculum available in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats. Graduates earn $17 to $18 per hour, exceeding the $14 average hourly wage for North Carolina educators.

The players

Durham Technical Community College

This educational institution serves as the primary training provider for the Early Educator Academy in Durham.

North Carolina General Assembly

This state legislative body provided $1.5 million in funding to support the development and operation of the academies.

Early Years

This organization partners with local community colleges to facilitate child care workforce training programs.

The details

The program combines introductory coursework with health training and teacher shadowing through an online model designed for full-time workers. With 20 participants per cohort, the academy provides a specialized pathway for individuals entering the early childhood education field.

Between 2019 and 2026, the area saw a 21% loss of child care sites.
The first cohort of the Early Educator Academy was held in summer 2025.

Culture Shift

This program reflects a broader societal shift toward professionalizing early childhood roles to counter widespread industry instability. It signals a move away from legacy hiring models toward formalized apprenticeship systems designed to stabilize local care deserts.

Local families may see expanded availability of care providers as graduates enter the workforce at higher wages. Participants benefit from a flexible online schedule that allows for professional development while working full-time.

The takeaway

The program demonstrates how targeted state funding and community college partnerships can create specialized pipelines for essential services. Prospective students should focus on the flexibility of online credentials to balance training with their current employment.