Contact Information:
Carlow University
John Cardone, VP of Marketing and Communications
412-578-6100
jvcardone@carlow.edu
Release Date: May 20, 2025
PITTSBURGH, PA – Carlow University has been awarded a $487,846 grant from The Heinz Endowments to expand credentialing and apprenticeship opportunities in early childhood education (ECE) for students in the Pittsburgh region.
With this funding, the University will grow its support systems for students pursuing a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, deepen apprenticeship connections in the early childhood workforce, and create new on-ramps to bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ECE.
“This grant is not only an investment in our students—it’s an investment in the children and families they will go on to serve,” said Dr. Keely Baronak, chair of Carlow’s Department of Education. “We have long championed the idea that education should be accessible to all. We’re grateful to The Heinz Endowments for supporting our mission to equip future educators with the knowledge, support, and credentials they need to lead.”
The project will focus on four main goals:
- Increase the number of CHS students in the CDA program.
- Support those students in continuing into Carlow’s ECE apprenticeship program or other degree pathways.
- Offer tailored CDA pathways for parenting students at Pittsburgh Scholar House.
- Retain at least eight students in the University’s master’s program leading to ECE certification.
The grant aims to serve at least 10 CHS students and 5 parenting students annually while cultivating a compassionate early childhood workforce prepared to meet regional needs. Carlow’s apprenticeship model enables students to “learn while they earn,” combining academic instruction with real-world experience in early learning settings.
This initiative reflects Carlow’s long-standing mission rooted in the values of the Sisters of Mercy—lifting up individuals, families, and communities through education, service, and compassion.
Carlow University is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located at the hub of Pittsburgh’s most cutting-edge industries. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1929, Carlow’s curricula and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to forward-thinking leadership and impactful service to the community.
The Heinz Endowments seeks to help our region thrive as a whole and just community and, through that work, to model solutions to major national and global challenges. We are devoted to advancing our vision of southwestern Pennsylvania as a vibrant center of creativity, learning, and social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Our work is supported by reliable data based on equitable, results-focused goals to cultivate a world where all are treated with fairness and respect and have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.