Partnerships for a Stronger Early Childhood Workforce

Our Mission

Building systems that sustain quality care and learning.

Workforce shortages are the greatest barrier to child care access and early learning quality.

Tandem partners with public and community organizations to design the systems — not just the staffing — that keep programs running and children learning.

We believe in infrastructure that:

Strengthens the early education workforce pipeline

Simplifies compliance and credential management

Increases reliability and placement speed

Keeps classrooms open, stable, and well-staffed

Infrastructure that strengthens early learning communities.

Tandem’s technology and on-the-ground operations can be tailored to support the organizations that support providers — helping coalitions, networks, and agencies build lasting workforce systems that align with policy goals and community priorities.

Regional Substitute Pools

Shared pools of qualified educators that ensure programs have coverage across counties and networks.

When community organizations promote and support these pools, adoption grows faster — helping us expand reliable staffing access across regions and keep parents in the workforce.

Automated Compliance Systems

Simplified verification and credential tracking aligned to state licensing standards.

We handle renewals and documentation so organizations can focus on supporting providers.

Custom Integrations

Our systems can connect with existing agency or partner platforms to ensure data, reporting, and workforce tracking stay aligned across the ecosystem.

Data Dashboards & Reporting

Track fill rates, compliance metrics, cost savings, and performance in real time.
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Partners use these insights to guide funding, policy, and operational decisions.

Pilot Programs & Scalable Rollouts

Start local, measure results, and expand with confidence.

We help partners test and scale sustainable workforce models.

Professional Development

We partner with organizations to expand professional development opportunities for the workforce and to equip providers with strategies for effective, sustainable staffing.

WHO WE PARTNER WITH

Collaboration across the early childhood ecosystem.

Tandem partners with organizations that shape, support, and sustain early learning in their communities. Together, we can co-design workforce systems that align with each partner’s mission and operational goals.

Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs)

Coordinate regional substitute pools, streamline compliance tracking, and expand access to qualified educators for the providers they support.

Nonprofits, Community Networks, & Shared Service Alliances

Strengthen educator pathways, improve access to employment opportunities, and champion workforce initiatives that elevate early learning quality.

Child Care Enterprises

Centralize staffing, compliance, and data across multiple locations to create stable, scalable workforce operations, custom-built to fit the organization’s brand and operating model.

Policy & Advocacy Organizations

Align workforce infrastructure with funding priorities, research, and early childhood policy goals.

State Agencies & Licensing Departments

Partner with departments overseeing early learning, workforce development, and child care licensing to simplify compliance and strengthen the statewide workforce pipeline.

Metrics that matter.

Because lasting impact starts with strong systems.

centers

1,300+

Child care centers partnered with Tandem to keep classrooms open and fully staffed.

teachers

4,900+

Qualified educators ready to step in and support early learning programs every day.

placements

145,000+

Successful matches made between centers and trusted teachers.

fill rate

80%

Of open shifts filled—helping programs maintain consistency for children and families.

Regions supported

13 regions

Across 4 states, and growing—building stronger local early childhood networks.

compliance rate

100%

Of teachers verified and cleared to work through Tandem’s compliance systems.

A collaborative approach to building workforce systems.

STEP ONE

Discovery & Design

Define goals, regulations, and workforce challenges.

We start by understanding each partner’s policy environment, workforce data, and operational needs. Together, we identify the root causes of staffing barriers and co-design systems that align with state priorities and community realities.

STEP TWO

Pilot & Validation

Test and refine in targeted regions.

Before scaling statewide, we pilot new systems in selected regions or networks. This phase allows partners to validate workflows, gather feedback from providers, and measure the impact on access, cost, and quality.

STEP THREE

Configuration & Compliance

Build credential logic, integrations, and dashboards.

Tandem configures secure, compliant systems that reflect state licensing rules and partner workflows — connecting data sources, automating verification, and creating dashboards that support transparency and decision-making.

STEP FOUR

Deployment & Operations

Launch with Tandem managing data and staffing operations.

Once validated, Tandem leads deployment — overseeing educator onboarding, shift coordination, and data management. Partners gain real-time visibility into workforce activity without adding administrative load.

STEP FIVE

Evaluation & Scale

Review outcomes and expand successful models statewide.

With measurable data and operational insights, partners can evaluate outcomes, demonstrate return on investment, and confidently expand workforce systems across additional regions or program types.

A systems partner — not just a staffing vendor.

Built for compliance from day one

Experienced in child care licensing and state regulations

Configurable, scalable technology built by a team of experienced engineers

Transparent data and API-enabled performance reporting

Proven results across counties, coalitions, and states

Work with us to strengthen the early childhood ecosystem.