T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps)

T.E.A.C.H. works to improve the quality of early childhood care and education programs for children by working to improve education, compensation and commitment.

T.E.A.C.H. sponsors the Early Childhood® KANSAS Project, which is an educational scholarship opportunity for family child care providers and staff working in child care centers.

Our Goals

• To improve the quality of early childhood care and education, in child care centers and family child care homes.
• To increase the educational level of child care givers.
• To increase compensation of child care givers.
• To decrease the turnover rate of child care providers.
• To promote individual professional development.
• To create a model of partnership for improving the quality of Kansas child care programs.

Criteria used to award scholarships
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need and commitment to the early childhood field. Child care center staff working with children in a licensed center, or any licensed or registered family child care provider meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply for scholarship (see who is eligible to participate below)

• A minimum number of hours of employment in a licensed or registered early childhood program is required.
• A high school diploma or GED
• Make a wage of less than $14.45 per hour.
• Do not currently hold a degree in Early Childhood Education.
  
  The educational level of his/her caregivers is one of the most critical indicators of the quality of a child's experience in child care. The project assists caregivers in going back to school to gain more education. The project also addresses two important issues: the low wage of child care providers, and the high turnover rate in the child care field. These issues are addressed by increasing compensation to caregivers with more education and requiring participants to remain in child care for an additional time period following their training.
  

What scholarships are available?

There are currently three scholarship programs available.
    1. Associate Degree program for child care center teaching staff
    2. Associate Degree program for family child care providers
    3. Associate Degree program for program directors, assistant directors, directors or administrators.


Who is eligible to participate?

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need and commitment to the early childhood field.

• Child care center staff working with children in a licensed center, or any licensed or registered family child care provider meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply for scholarship:
• Must work a minimum of 30 hours directly with children in a licensed or registered early childhood program
• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Do not currently have a degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Make a wage of less than $14.45 per hour.

Program directors, assistant directors, directors or administrators meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply for scholarship:

• Must work a minimum of 30 hours in a licensed early childhood program.
• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Do not currently have a degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Make a wage of less than $14.45 per hour.

What community colleges are currently participating in the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project:

Allen County Community College "click here"
Barton County Community College "click here"
Butler County Community College "click here"
Cloud County Community College "click here"
Colby Community College - Smart Start Site "click here"
Cowley County Community College "click here"
Dodge City Community College "click here"
Garden City Community College "click here"
Highland Community College "click here"
Hutchinson Community College "click here"
Johnson County Community College "click here"
Kansas CIty Community College "click here"
Labette Community College "click here"
Neosho County Community College "click here"

Board of Regents - Access to Community College Web Sites "click here"
Open the preceding link and then click on institutions and then community colleges.

How do I apply for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship?

Please contact Kris Nicholson, Project Director, by email at kris@kaccrra.org or by phone toll free at 1-877-678-2548 for a scholarship application.

Information above is quoted from http://www.kaccrra.org/.  Please visit the KACCRRA site for more information or contact Kris Nicholson for more information.