UH Mānoa launches new early childhood education degree
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Responding to a critical shortage of early childhood educators in Hawaiʻi, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Education, is launching a new Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) program in fall 2025.
The goal of the program is to provide candidates with the needed competencies and experiences to nurture and guide children from birth through age 8, laying the foundation for their learning and discovery within their individual social-cultural contexts.
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. The deadline to apply is March 1. The UH Mānoa College of Education held a joint news conference with Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke on February 7 at the UH Mānoa Children’s Center to encourage students to enroll.
“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,” UH Mānoa College of Education Dean Nathan Murata said. “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.”
Expanding early learning access
This initiative is a major step in streamlining the pathway to becoming a pre-K teacher by separating early childhood education from the broader K–8th grade track. It 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 Luke. By 2032, Ready Keiki aims to provide preschool access 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,” Luke said. “By streamlining the pathway to becoming a pre-K educator, we are investing in our children, families and the future of our state.”
The 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 integrates community input to address local needs.
“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 UH Mānoa Children’s Center and graduate of UH Mānoa’s early childhood education master’s program who has more than 30 years of experience in the early childhood education field. “I’m really proud and excited to see what comes from this new program.”
The BEd in ECCE program was developed through collaboration among UH Mānoa faculty and early childhood education faculty at multiple UH community colleges, including Honolulu CC, Kauaʻi CC, UH Maui College and Hawaiʻi CC.
“This new degree program is a testament to the power of collaboration across our UH campuses, ensuring that students statewide have access to high-quality training for critical early childhood education roles,” UH President Wendy Hensel said. “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/or to sign up for virtual or in-person info sessions, visit the College of Education website.