Sponsor Spotlight: Advancing Early Childhood Education Through Sponsorship
Midwest Urban Strategies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to building stronger, more connected workforce ecosystems. Delivering high-impact early childhood education programming takes collaboration, intention, and shared purpose. Our ECE Registered Apprenticeship Accelerator in St. Louis was made possible through the generosity of sponsors who believe in expanding opportunity for quality early education development and strengthening the systems that support them.
Looking ahead, Midwest Urban Strategies is launching a new Early Childhood Education Sponsorship opportunity: the SEED Fund (Supporting Early Educators Development). This initiative will help grow ECE Registered Apprenticeship programs, strengthen professional development, and support the events and activities that elevate early educators. We thank our 2025 ECE sponsors for helping pave the way and look forward to welcoming new partners ready to invest in the future of early childhood education.
We invite you to learn more about our 2025 ECE Sponsors:
Teachstone is a national leader in advancing early childhood education by helping educators deliver high-quality, meaningful learning experiences for young children. Through tools, data, coaching, and professional development, Teachstone equips programs with the supports needed to strengthen instructional practice and improve outcomes. Their Classroom Assessment Scoring System, known as CLASS, is one of the foundational ways they help programs understand and enhance teacher–child interactions, but their impact extends far beyond the tool itself. In partnership with the Office of Head Start, Teachstone provides training, develops Affiliate Trainers, and supports grantees nationwide in building long-term capacity for high-quality early learning. Their commitment to elevating early childhood educators and expanding access to life-changing teaching aligned powerfully with our St. Louis Accelerator, and we are grateful for their partnership.
District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund is a nationally recognized labor–management partnership committed to expanding access to education, career pathways, and economic mobility. Since 1974, they have supported more than 100,000 learners through integrated training, credential pathways, and student-centered support services. Their investment in early childhood education includes professional development, ECE credentials, and high-quality early learning programs, including their Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, which provides full-day, developmentally rich care for infants and toddlers across Philadelphia. Their leadership in strengthening the ECE workforce reflects the values that made our St. Louis Accelerator possible, and we are grateful for their partnership.
