New early childhood education program at UH-Mānoa helps address statewide pre-K teacher shortage

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education is responding to the critical shortage of early childhood educators in Hawaiʻi with a new bachelor of education in early childhood care and education degree program beginning this fall.

The program aims to provide candidates with the needed competencies and experiences to nurture and guide children from birth through age 8 years old, laying the foundation for their learning and discovery within their individual social-cultural contexts.

This initiative is a major step in streamlining the pathway to becoming a pre-kindergarten teacher by separating early childhood education from the broader kindergarten to eighth-grade track.

It also aligns with statewide efforts to expand early learning access and emphasizes the critical role of care and learning from birth — a priority under the state’s Ready Keiki initiative led by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke.

Ready Keiki aims to provide preschool access by 2032 for all Hawaiʻi 3- and 4-year-olds, creating more than 400 classrooms statewide. However, the expansion of early childhood education is being hindered by a lack of qualified teachers.

“Expanding access to early childhood education is at the heart of the Ready Keiki initiative, and this new degree program is a critical step in ensuring we have the qualified teachers needed to support Hawaiʻi’s youngest learners,” said Luke. “By streamlining the pathway to becoming a pre-K educator, we are investing in our children, families and the future of our state.”

The program offers a full-time schedule, with evening classes, in a hybrid statewide format. Graduates will be recommended for a Hawaiʻi early childhood teaching license for preschool through third grade.

Curriculum aligns with the National Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators as well as the Interstate New Teacher Assessment Consortium Model Core Teaching Standards, ensuring graduates meet national benchmarks for high-quality teaching.

Grounded in Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural and educational landscape, the program also integrates community input to address local needs.

“The College of Education is committed to addressing Hawaiʻi’s critical need for early childhood educators by providing a high-quality, accessible pathway for future teachers,” said College of Education Dean Nathan Murata. “This new program reflects our dedication to supporting children, families and communities by ensuring a well-prepared workforce that understands the importance of early learning and care.”

The deadline to apply for the new program is March 1.

“I am incredibly excited for the students of this new program to be able to learn about early childhood from infancy through the early elementary school years through the lens of both education and care, both of which are fundamental aspects of working with Hawaiʻi keiki and families,” ​​said Valley Varma, a teacher at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Children’s Center. “I’m really proud and excited to see what comes from this new program.”

Varma is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s early childhood education master’s program and has more than 30 years of experience in the field.

The Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Care and Education program was developed through collaboration among the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty and early childhood education faculty at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College at three UH community colleges, including Honolulu, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi.

“This new degree program is a testament to the power of collaboration across our (University of Hawaiʻi) campuses, ensuring that students statewide have access to high-quality training for critical early childhood education roles,” said University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel. “By preparing future educators to meet Hawaiʻi’s workforce needs, UH is helping to strengthen our communities and investing in a brighter future for our families.”

To apply and to sign up for virtual or in-person information sessions, visit the College of Education website.