National Head Start Association Teams Up with Career Platform EarlyDay to Enhance Staff Recruitment

Boosting Child Education: NHSA and EarlyDay Join Forces

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is taking a significant step to address ongoing staffing challenges in early childhood education by partnering with EarlyDay, a dedicated career marketplace for child educators. This agreement marks the first time NHSA has aligned with an exclusive platform to facilitate hiring in Head Start programs across the country.

Responding to Staffing Shortages

In a competitive job market, many Head Start locations have struggled to hire qualified early childhood educators. Dr. Deborah Bergeron, the Deputy Director for Community Engagement Innovation at NHSA, emphasized that programs have regularly reported needs for quicker access to qualified educators, reduced hiring administrative burdens, and stronger recruitment pathways to retain talent.

With the assistance of EarlyDay, which features over 130,000 teacher profiles nationwide, Head Start administrators can significantly streamline their hiring processes. This allows them to concentrate on their core mission: supporting children and families.

Enhancing Career Mobility for Educators

Not only will the partnership bolster hiring efficiency, but it will also enable educators using EarlyDay's platform to access valuable Child Development Associate (CDA) certification training provided by NHSA. This will enhance their credentials, thereby strengthening the overall workforce in early childhood education.

In 2022, Head Start programs catered to over 800,000 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, showcasing their vital role within communities. However, many programs noted that staff vacancies often resulted in classroom closures—thus impeding reliable child care access for families. By bringing qualified candidates into these roles more quickly, NHSA and EarlyDay aim to mitigate these disruptions and ensure that families receive consistent and quality education and care.

The Significance of the Partnership

Emma Harris, co-founder of EarlyDay and vice president at Wonderschool, stressed the importance of this partnership. She stated, "Head Start programs play a critical role in communities, yet too many are constrained by staffing shortages and limited access to workforce development resources." With this collaboration, they are not only facilitating faster connections with qualified educators but are also opening new professional opportunities for those in the field.

Head Start location directors can access the EarlyDay platform at EarlyDay's website or reach out directly to Emma Harris via email for more information.

About the Partners

EarlyDay is the only career marketplace specifically designed for early childhood educators. The platform aims to streamline hiring processes for both employers and job seekers. Following its acquisition by Wonderschool in 2024, EarlyDay solidified its mission of creating quicker and easier pathways for childcare employment.

National Head Start Association is dedicated to supporting children and families, ensuring that every child can succeed regardless of their circumstances at birth. Representing nearly 750,000 children, 270,000 staff, and over 1,600 Head Start grant recipients across the United States, NHSA advocates for resources that cultivate healthy, empowered families and vibrant communities.

In conclusion, this partnership forms a crucial part of the larger effort to ensure Head Start programs can continue their essential work, providing quality early education and care to vulnerable populations. With a solid foundation through innovative staffing solutions, the future of early childhood education looks brighter than ever.