To address the severe staffing shortages contributing to North Carolina’s child care crisis, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with 16 North Carolina institutions of higher education to establish Child Care Academies. These academies provide shortened, intensive training and required certifications at no cost to participants, preparing individuals for employment in licensed child care settings. Montgomery Community College is proud to be one of the selected institutions participating in this statewide initiative. Traditional pathways to becoming a lead teacher in early childhood education can take several weeks or months to complete. MCC’s Child Care Academy, offered through Continuing Education as EDU 3119, delivers a comprehensive