What is Washington Scholarship for Child Care Professionals?
This program provides scholarships to child care center providers and family child
care providers who want to obtain a two year college degree. It is based on the
sharing of expenses by the recipient, the sponsoring child care center or family
child care provider, and the Washington Scholarship for Child Care Professionals
program. It links training, compensation and commitment to improving the quality
of early childhood and school-age care for children and providers.
Nationally, the program has had remarkable success. Providers and centers overwhelmingly
support the program in their evaluations. Participants typically complete up to
18 credits per year and remain with their sponsoring centers, thus reducing turnover.
The average salary of program recipients generally increases, often exceeding expectations.
Who is eligible?
Any child care provider employed full-time (30 hours/week) in a licensed child care
center, and licensed family child care providers who would like to attend a community
or technical college to earn credit toward a two-year degree. At sites providing
school-age care, staff members who work 15-29 hours per week are also eligible.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need and commitment to early childhood
education and school-age care.
What does the scholarship cover?
In child care centers and school-age programs, the program provides 75% of the cost
of tuition and books, a travel stipend, and reimbursement to the center or program
for part of the release time required to participate. For family child care centers,
it also covers 90% of the cost for tuition and books as well as the same travel
and release stipends.
What kind of commitment are providers required to make?
A scholarship recipient must attend classes and successfully complete 12-20 credits
per contract year. All providers are expected to pay 10% of the cost of tuition
and books. They must have been in the field of early childhood education for at
least six months and should have a professional development plan. At the end of
the scholarship contract, providers must agree to remain with their facility for
an additional 12 months.
What commitment must a sponsoring child care center or school age program make?
The center must agree to sponsor the provider by contributing 15% of the cost of
tuition and books and allow release time. The center must also agree to award the
teacher a bonus or raise upon successful completion of the contract. The center
should be willing to provide the teacher with a flexible schedule so she or he can
attend classes as needed.
Can any type of center sponsor a teacher?
Any state licensed facility wishing to make a commitment to early childhood teacher
education and compensation by meeting the terms of the contract can participate.
What kind of financial reward does the provider receive from the program?
The provider is awarded a bonus of up to $300 from the program as well as a bonus
from their employer (if a center employee) upon completion of the required coursework.
For Information:
Phone : 1-866-308-3224 (toll free)
Web: www.childcarenet.org
Email:scholarship@childcarenet.org
Address: 917 Pacific Avenue, Suite 600, Tacoma, Wa 98402
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