T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood®
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood provides scholarships and supports for CDA, coursework leading toward an Associate Degree in Early Childhood, and the Early Childhood Education Director's Certificate. The project began in 1990 in North Carolina by Child Care Services Association to address three workforce issues: low education, low compensation, and high turnover. Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) has been replicated in 22 states and is administered in Delaware by The Family & Workplace Connection. All T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships link increased education to increased compensation and requires recipients and sponsoring early childhood programs to share the cost.
In Delaware, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood AA/AS scholarships are available to anyone who:
- Works at least 30 hours per week in a licensed Delaware child care facility;
- Has a minimum of one year's experience in an early care or school-age center or who is a Level 2 family child care provider;
- Has a high school diploma or GED;
- Earns less than $15/hour; and
- Is committed to remaining in the field.
The components of T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood include the following:
Scholarship - The scholarship covers 80% of the cost of tuition, books, and fees. Additional supports are available to ensure successful completion of the required coursework. These include a travel stipend and release time for many recipients.
Education - Each recipient is required to successfully complete 9–18 credits at Delaware Technical & Community College during a 12-month contract period.
Compensation - After completing the educational requirements in a contract period, participants are eligible to receive increased compensation, in the form of a bonus or raise. The sponsoring center chooses an appropriate model for each participant it will support.
Commitment - Participants commit to remaining at their sponsoring center or in the field for six months (CDA scholarships) or a year (college coursework) for each year they receive a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarship.
In Delaware, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Education Director’s Certificate scholarships are available to anyone who:
- Works at least 30 hours per week in a licensed Delaware child care facility;
- Has a minimum of one year’s experience in an early care or school-age center;
- Has a high school diploma or GED;
- Has completed required pre-requisites (Child Development, Methods I or II, Classroom Management, Assessment of Young Children);
- Earns less than $20/hour; and
- Is committed to remaining in the field.
The components of T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood include the following:
Scholarship - The scholarship covers 80% of the cost of tuition, books, and fees. An additional support of a travel stipend is included.
Education - Each recipient is required to successfully complete specific courses (12 credits) at Delaware Technical & Community College during a 24-month contract period.
Compensation - After completing the educational requirements in a contract period, participants are eligible to receive increased compensation, in the form of a bonus or raise. The sponsoring center chooses an appropriate model for each participant it will support.
Commitment - Participants commit to remaining at their sponsoring center or in the field for 24 months after completing their T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarship.
Children and families benefit from T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood because of its impact on quality indicators: a more stable, consistent workforce that is educated in the field of early childhood, and a community committed to supporting the field. Delaware benefits from national data collection and technical assistance provided by the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. An advisory committee overseeing the project is comprised of representatives from the Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Delaware Health and Social Services’ Division of Social Services, Delaware Departments of Education and Labor, Delaware Early Care and Education Council, Wilmington Early Care and Education Council, Head Start, child care center directors, and family child care providers.
Funding has been made possible through generous contributions from the Delaware Departments of Education, Health and Social Services, Services for Children, Youth and Their Families; City of Wilmington; Chichester duPont Foundation; Social Venture Partners; and PNC Foundation. Scholarship costs range from $501 to $2,219. For more information on how to apply, or if you are interested in providing support or scholarships for T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood recipients, contact Debbie Taylor at 302-479-1685.
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