TEACH Early Childhood® Alabama is a scholarship program that helps early learning professionals increase their level of education and effectiveness in the classroom by making the educational process more attainable and affordable, and by increasing their potential to earn higher wages and reduce staff turnover.
What does TEACH stand for?
TEACH stands for Teacher Education and Compensation Helps.
What does TEACH do?
TEACH works step-by-step with early childhood educators and child care workers who wish to increase their level of education and effectiveness in the classroom. TEACH provides scholarships, one-on-one counseling, and connections with the best available resources to help remove any barriers to finishing their education.
What Scholarships are Available?
Currently, there are three scholarship models available: CDA Assessment Fee, Associate Degree, & Bachelor Degree.
- To increase the education and effectiveness of early learning professionals
- To increase compensation
- To enhance the quality of early learning settings throughout Alabama
- To promote professionalism and ongoing professional development
- To decrease the turnover rate in early learning settings
Recipients:
- More training and education leading to higher professionalism, confidence, and self-esteem
- Increased compensation and reward for increased education
- Professional contacts and networks are developed
- To promote professionalism and ongoing professional development
- To decrease the turnover rate in early learning settings
Sponsoring Programs:
- Enhancement of the quality of their early learning programs
- Increased compensation encourages providers to stay at their program
- Increased support for higher education levels for their staff with minimum investment
- Reduced staff turnover
Children and Parents:
- Trusting, caring, and consistent relationships are formed
- Their provider has early childhood knowledge and experience and knows about their important developmental milestones
- Higher quality programs better prepare children for school success, and lead to better outcomes overall
Associate Degree Scholarship:
- 80% of tuition
- 80% of books
- $80 travel stipend
- Release time – when applicable
- Educational bonus and incentives
Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship:
- 80% of tuition
- 80% of books
- $80 travel stipend
- Release time – when applicable
- Educational bonus and incentives
CDA Assessment Fee Scholarship:
- 85% of Assessment Fee ($376)
- $200 bonus upon receipt of credential
You may be eligible for a CDA Assessment or Associate Degree scholarship if you:
• Work in a DHR licensed child care facility
• Work a minimum of 30 hours per week
• Meet wage requirements ($15 or less per hour for child care center teachers and family home providers; $18 or less per hour for child care center directors)
• Work for a child care center or family child care home that agrees to sponsor you
You may be eligible for a Bachelor Degree scholarship if you:
Work in a DHR licensed child care facility or as Office of School Readiness funded First-Class Pre-K classroom
Work a minimum of 20 hours per week
Work for a child care or Pre-K program that agrees to sponsor you
Have a minimum of 55 hours of transferable college credit
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We currently offer early childhood education associate degree scholarships, bachelors degree scholarships, and CDA Assessment scholarships.
Download the application below for the scholarship in which you are interested:
- Application for Associate’s Degree Scholarship
for Child Care Center Directors - Application for Associate’s Degree Scholarship
for Child Care Center Teachers - Application for Associate’s Degree Scholarship
for Family Child Care Home Providers - Application for Bachelor’s Degree Scholarship
for Child Care Center and Preschool Teachers - Application for CDA Scholarship
for Child Care Center and Preschool Teachers - Application for Retention Incentive Program
for Child Care Center and Preschool Teachers
TEACH Early Childhood® Alabama is a licensed program of Early Years, and is a program of the Alabama Partnership for Children. TEACH is funded by the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.
Community Colleges:
Tuition/Books Reimbursement Claim Form
TEACH Resources:
Click on resource picture to download PDF
Compensation Fact Sheet
Release Time Flyer
CDA Model Matrix
Bachelor Degree Model Matrix
Associate Degree Model Matrix
Annual Outcomes Report
Our Programs
