T.E.A.C.H.

WHAT IS T.E.A.C.H.?

The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Project provides scholarships for teachers working in child care to complete course work in early childhood education and to increase their compensation. The Center for Child Care Career Development as a division of the Office of First Steps will administer the T.E.A.C.H. project.

WHY IS T.E.A.C.H. NEEDED?

• To improve the quality of child care
• To reduce high turnover
• To increase education level and compensation

WHO PARTICIPATES?

Teachers, directors or family child care providers working in a registered or licensed child care setting are eligible to apply for a scholarship.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Applicant must work a minimum number of hours per week in a registered or licensed child care program
• Applicant must have the sponsorship of their employer in a licensed child care program

STATE CREDENTIAL ELIGIBILITY            

• Work in a state regulated program
• Work 20 hours per week
• Earn less than $14.45 per hour (Teacher)
• Earn less than $15.00 per hour (Director)

ASSOCIATE DEGREE ELIGIBILITY

• Work in a state regulated program
• Work 30 hours per week
• Earn less than $14.45 per hour (Teacher)
• Earn less than $15.00 per hour (Director)     

WHO BENEFITS?

Children are able to bond with a provider who:

• has made a commitment to the field
• is a specialist in early childhood education
• understands child development and
• is sensitive to the needs of very young children

Employer benefits by the teacher's ability to provide a higher quality of child care for children and families

Taxpayers benefit by saving $7 later for every $1 spent on high quality programs for young children

HOW IS T.E.A.C.H. FUNDED?

• T.E.A.C.H., the participant and their sponsoring child care program each pay a portion of the cost
• Funding the T.E.A.C.H.'s portion of the cost comes from SCDHHS and Head Start

WHAT ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS?

• Scholarship
• Compensation
• Education
• Commitment

SCHOLARSHIP:

• The Teacher Education and Compensation Helps Project provides scholarships for child care teachers, who work full time
• Scholarships are available for South Carolina Early Childhood Credential (ECD 101), or Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
• Recipient receives money to help with the costs of college tuition, books and travel
• Recipient may receive paid release time from their job
• Scholarships are based on the partnership between the participant, the sponsoring child care program (employer) and the T.E.A.C.H. project, all sharing the cost

EDUCATION:

• Participants in the South Carolina Early Childhood Credential Scholarship Program commit to completing 3 college credit hours (ECD 101) of education during a semester
• Participants in the Early Childhood Associate Degree Scholarship Program commit to completing between 9-15 semester hours of education during each annual contract period

COMMITMENT:

Participants make a commitment to remain in the sponsoring child care program or the field for at least a year beyond the contract.

COMPENSATION:

• Participants completing the South Carolina Early Childhood Credential receive a $200 salary bonus
• Participants completing the 9-15 semester hours toward the Early Childhood Associate Degree receive a salary increase through either a raise or bonus

PROJECT RESULTS:

• Increased education for child care teachers
• Increased compensation for child care teachers
• Reduced turnover for child care program
• Higher quality care for children

INFORMATION:

To receive additional information and scholarship applications, please contact:

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood South Carolina
Center For Child Care Career Development
P.O. Box 5616 Greenville, SC 29606-5616
Telephone: (864) 250-8581 Fax: (864) 250-8680

T.E.A.C.H. Equipment Selection List in PDF