T.E.A.C.H.

T.E.A.C.H. 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 T.E.A.C.H. stand for?

T.E.A.C.H. stands for Teacher Education and Compensation Helps.

What does T.E.A.C.H. do?

T.E.A.C.H. 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. T.E.A.C.H. 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.

What are the goals of T.E.A.C.H.?

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

Who benefits from T.E.A.C.H.?

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

What do the scholarships cover?

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

Who is eligible for T.E.A.C.H.?

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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Apply Now!

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

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Alabama is a licensed program of Child Care Services Association, and is a program of the Alabama Partnership for Children. T.E.A.C.H. is funded by the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.