San Mateo County-based Latino nonprofit Upward Scholars announced Thursday that it has launched a program to support immigrants seeking careers in early childhood education.
The academic and professional support initiative, called TeacherUp, seeks to help county residents enroll in college, connect with employers and receive comprehensive support such as stipends.
The program builds on the 2018 workforce development pilot called the Teacher Pipeline Project, developed by the Community Equity Collaborative to address the shortage of early childhood educators on the Bay Area Peninsula and supported by local community colleges, schools, nonprofits and policymakers.
The project also spurred state legislation to raise awareness about the challenges and financial barriers residents face when pursuing careers in early childhood education, which disproportionately affect women and people of color.
Community Equity Collaborative Executive Director Dayna Chung said now is the time to invest in an equitable learning workforce amid worsening educator shortages.