August 10, 2026 – The Rotary Club of York has awarded Community Connections for Children (CCC) a $100,000 grant to launch an Early Childhood Education Pre-Apprenticeship Program in partnership with the School District of the City of York.
The new program will provide York City high school students with a direct pathway into the early childhood education profession through college coursework, paid work-based learning experiences in Pre-K Counts classrooms, mentoring, and the opportunity to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential while still in high school.
The program builds upon CCC’s broader workforce strategy through the Every Child Has Opportunities (ECHO) initiative, a collaborative effort to strengthen York County’s early childhood education system with strategic investments in workforce, quality, and access. CCC has developed innovative workforce solutions, including the Teacher Aide and Registered Apprenticeship programs, to recruit, train, and retain early childhood educators. The new Pre-Apprenticeship Program is the next step in that vision, introducing high school students to meaningful careers while creating a long-term pipeline of qualified educators for York County. It will strengthen the educator pipeline while supporting children, families, and local employers.
“This investment creates opportunities for York City students, both at the high school and pre-kindergarten level. It will introduce William Penn students to career paths in the early childhood education sector and offer additional supports to Pre-K Counts children and families,” said Christy Renjilian, Executive Director of Community Connections for Children. “We’re grateful to the Rotary Club of York for believing in our vision, and to the School District of the City of York for their willingness to partner.”
Students accepted into the program will:
- Complete the required 135 hours of Child Development Associate coursework provided by HACC.
- Participate in paid work-based learning experiences in School District of the City of York Pre-K Counts classrooms.
- Receive mentoring and professional development from experienced educators and Rotarians.
- Graduate prepared to enter employment in the early childhoold education sector or continue into a Registered Apprenticeship higher education program.
The Rotary Club of York’s investment reflects a shared commitment to strengthening York County’s workforce while creating new opportunities for students to explore careers in early childhood education.
“The Rotary Club of York is committed to helping children throughout the City of York by investing in opportunities that strengthen their future,” said Terri Travers, Executive Director of the Rotary Club of York. “This program not only supports our youngest learners during the most important years of their development but also helps inspire and prepare the next generation of educators by providing valuable career skills and hands-on experience. We are proud to support an initiative that benefits children today while building a stronger, more skilled workforce for our community’s future.”
For the School District of the City of York, the partnership expands career-connected learning opportunities while helping address one fo the region’s most pressing workforce needs.
“This partnership reflects the kind of innovative collaboration that strengthens our community,” said Dr. Andrea Berry-Brown, Superintendent of the School District of the City of York. “By investing in our students today, we’re creating meaningful pathways to rewarding careers while building a stronger workforce for the future. Together with Community Connections for Children and the Rotary Club of York, we’re proud to help bring this vision to life – benefiting our youngest learners, their families, and the employers who rely on a skilled and dedicated workforce.”
The program will launch during the 2026-2027 school year, with the first cohort of York City students beginning coursework and classroom experiences this fall. Community Connections for Children and its partners hope the pilot will serve as a model for expanding early childhood education career pathways across the region while strengthening the workforce that children, families, and employers rely on.
About Community Connections for Children
Community Connections for Children (CCC) is the Early Learning Resource Center for Regions 9 & 10, serving Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties. CCC supports low-income working families in paying for childcare and providing resources, training, and on-site technical assistance to early childhood education providers to help them improve their program to ensure that every child is successful in school and life.
The ECHO Initiative is administered by Community Connections for Children and the York County Economic Alliance (YCEA) with philanthropic support from J. William Warehime Foundation, Powder Mill Foundation, WellSpan Health, Kinsley Foundation, United Way of York County, and York County Community Foundation.
About the Rotary Club of York
The Rotary Club of York is dedicated to improving lives through service, leadership, and community investment. Through its grantmaking and volunteer efforts, Rotary supports initiatives that strengthen education, economic opportunity, and quality of life throughout
York County.
About the School District of the City of York
The School District of the City of York serves approximately 6,000 students in grades PreK-12 across the city of York, Pennsylvania. Covering roughly five square miles, the district includes ten schools, including eight PreK-8 buildings, William Penn Senior High School for grades 9-12, and Bearcat Cyber Academy.
Media Contact:
Katie Caples
Director, ECHO
Community Connections for Children
kcaples@cccforpa.org
(717) 714-8561
