Did you know that UAA built a new program to transform college credits into real credentials for ��ҹ̽��’s child care and education workforce?

July 28, 2025

The Youth Early Teaching Initiative, or YETI, is a three-year, grant-funded effort that covers tuition, fees, and books for students pursuing an associate degree in early childhood development.

The program builds on the earlier Sprout Scholars initiative, which provided funding for students to complete their first college courses in early childhood education. YETI takes the next step in helping those students, and others, complete a full degree that leads to direct workforce placement.

"Today a reader" written in multiple colors, with a bookshelf below in an office — UAA's School of Education literacy lounge (UAA photo by James Evans)

Why it matters

��ҹ̽��’s early childhood education system is under strain. Many educators have some college experience but only a fraction hold formal credentials. According to the ��ҹ̽�� workforce registry, most early educators do not yet hold an associate or bachelor’s degree (, ). That gap limits career mobility and contributes to staffing shortages across the state.

A graphic featuring the three "SUNRAE" pathways of the certificate, associate and the B.A. — The Early Childhood Development stackable degree program at UAA.

What it is

YETI launched in July 2025 with $450,000 in grant funding through the ��ҹ̽�� Department of Education and Early Development under Perkins V. The program pays tuition, fees, and book costs for students pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in early childhood development.

Where it started

YETI builds on UAA’s Sprout Scholars program, which served 41 students across two cohorts. When Sprout’s funding ended, faculty and staff used lessons from the pilot to craft a successful new grant proposal. They turned a short-term initiative into a sustained pathway.

“We equipped them with 12 credit hours, but that’s not a credential,” said UAA School of Education Dean Tonia Dousay. “This program helps them finish and become workforce ready.”

A woman with long blonde hair, red glasses and a brown jacket smiles in front of a drawing of children — School of Education dean Tonia Dousay speaks to students from King Tech High School's Early Childhood Education program as they visit the UAA School of Education in 2022 (UAA photo by James Evans).

Who it supports

YETI is designed for students already working in child care or who have completed an Occupational Endorsement Certificate. It also supports high school students earning dual credit.

Melissa Thompson, a Sprout Scholar and UAA sophomore, works full time at Anchorage Montessori School and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She’s using YETI to stay on track for a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with a minor in children’s mental health.

“I’m working toward a career where I can make a difference in children’s lives,” Thompson said. “The YETI scholarship is a tremendous help toward achieving my goals.”

A woman with straight, shoulder length hair takes a selfie, wearing red glasses and a scarf — Photo courtesy of Melissa Thompson

Amyrkha Najee Harris earned her OEC through the SEA-AEYC apprenticeship in Juneau while working in local classrooms. Now a new mother, she plans to enroll in YETI with hopes of one day opening her own child care center.

“The apprenticeship made me feel more confident in my ability to keep going with school,” she said. “I’ve worked hard to get here, and now I want to open my own center someday and give back to the community that supported me.”

A woman poses on graduation day with her regalia — Photo courtesy of Amyrkha Harris

What’s next

YETI staff are reaching out to former Sprout Scholars to invite them back. Dual enrollment partnerships with ��ҹ̽�� high schools are expanding, and a summer practicum will bring rural students to Anchorage for hands-on training.

“My job is to make sure students are able to focus on their studies,” said Student Success Coordinator Darlene MacKinnon. “They shouldn’t have to get through the red tape.”

“We believe in what we do,” she added. “When a student walks through our door, we’re already thinking about how to help them walk across that stage.”

Students and educators from the Early Childhood program at UAA are featured in this video from 2019.

By the numbers

$450,000 total funding over three years
41 Sprout Scholars served in two cohorts
18 scholars transitioned into university degree programs
10 postsecondary students supported per semester
15 high school students enrolled through dual credit each semester
5 rural high school students supported for a summer practicum in Anchorage

The bottom line

The YETI program is a direct result of faculty and staff identifying a workforce gap and responding with a grant-backed solution. By converting a short-term pilot into a multi-year initiative, they created a sustainable pathway for students to earn industry-relevant credentials.

In doing so, UAA is not only supporting individual student success but also contributing to ��ҹ̽��’s broader efforts to build a qualified early childhood workforce that meets long-term economic and educational needs.

Go Deeper

UAA Early Childhood Programs

UAA School of Education

Workforce Development in ��ҹ̽��

For questions and inquiries regarding student support, email UAA School of Education Student Success Coordinator Darlene Mackinnon at dlmackinnon@alaska.edu.