information packet. - south carolina center for child care career

T.E.A.C.H.

Early Childhood®

South Carolina

Information Packet

The South Carolina Center for Child Care Career Development

Partners in educating future generations.

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® South Carolina 3

Now That You Have Been Approved 4

Commitment 5

Paperwork 6

Tuition, Books, and Travel 7

Purge Date 8

Dropping, Withdrawing, or Failing a Class 9

Classes & Financial Aid 10

Financial Responsibilities 11

Reimbursements 12

Financial Questions 13

Release Time 14 - 15

Grades and DSS Training Hours 16

Bachelor/Associate Degree Bonus or Salary Raise 17

South Carolina Credentials 18

Support and Advocacy for T.E.A.C.H. 22

Need to Know Information 23

Contact Information 24

Bachelor of Arts/Science Degree Information 19

Recipients: Gaining Support for Your Education 20

Employers: Additional Ways to Support Your Employee 21

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3

T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD® SOUTH CAROLINA

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project, now in its second decade, is flourishing throughout the

United States as more and more states recognize the benefits of a well-educated, well-compensated

early childhood workforce. This national project is an effort to improve the quality of child care

by focusing on scholarship, education, commitment and compensation.

T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD® SOUTH CAROLINA provides scholarships for directors,

teachers, and family/group providers working in child care to complete course work in early

childhood education. In 2001, the Center for Child Care Career Development (CCCCD)

established the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood®

Project to reduce turnover rates, increase the education of child care providers, combat poor

teacher compensation, and improve the quality of child care.

COMMITMENT

T.E.A.C.H. demonstrates significant results in reducing teacher turnover rates:

2009-2010 SC T.E.A.C.H. Recipient turnover = 6%

South Carolina turnover = 30%

National turnover = 40%

A long-lasting caring relationship with the same caregiver positively affects a child’s learning and development.

Providing South Carolina‘s early childhood workforce a practical way to increase their education.

South Carolina Credentials Early Childhood or School-Age Provides 20 DSS training hours for one year

Associate Degree in Early Care and Education Infant/Toddler or Director Credential Certificate, Diploma, or Associate Degree

Bachelor Degree Bachelor Degree in Early Care and Education or Child

Development

High quality child care is critical for a child’s cognitive, language, and social development.

January 2001—August 2010

57,828 academic credits have been completed 7,358 students have earned their South Carolina

Early Childhood Credential

COMPENSATION

Competitive wages and benefits are the most important factors in retaining child care providers.

T.E.A.C.H. Increases Compensation

January 2001—-August 2010

8,928 bonuses have been awarded $2.0 million (approx.) dispensed in salary bonuses

NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED

College/University

Apply for admission.

Fill out application to be admitted to the college/university.

(T.E.A.C.H. will pay for application or technology fees but not for any SLED/FBI

checks or insurance fees.)

Take Placement Exams. (AA degree students and all Trident Technical College students)

Contact Advisor (ECD Program Director).

Register for class(es).

Students are responsible for out-of-county tuition, late fees, and background checks.

Please be aware of the following items that you need to complete, for both T.E.A.C.H. and your college/university, so that you can attend class(es).

Important!

T.E.A.C.H.

Read your acceptance packet completely.

Identify your T.E.A.C.H. scholarship counselor. (S)he will be able to guide you and answer

your questions about being a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship recipient.

Read and sign contract.

Give center director contract so (s)he can read and sign contract.

Send or fax to TE.A.C.H.:

1. Signed contract

2. Registration Statement or proof of registration and tuition.

Charge book(s) to T.E.A.C.H.

Some colleges/universities require a three-day wait after T.E.A.C.H. has submitted

the charge approval before students are able to charge their books.

5

What is a contract? A contract, also called a Form A, is a legal, written agreement between the recipient, center, and

The Center for Child Care Career Development. Your contract explains what is required of you

and what you can expect from the CCCCD during your participation in the program. The contract

is sent to you after your scholarship application has been approved. Bachelor and associate degree

recipients will have the opportunity to renew their contract every year.

COMMITMENT

What Am I Committing To?

Recipient

By signing the contract, the recipient is agreeing to: Enroll, complete and successfully pass course(s) Communicate with the CCCCD about class enrollment at the

beginning and end of the semester or if class schedule changes Submit valid grade report to the CCCCD Reimburse the CCCCD 10% or 20% of the cost of tuition and

book(s) Complete and submit all forms by the due dates Remain employed at your sponsoring center during your

contract dates Continue employment in the field of child care for an additional

year past the end of the contract date (Credential recipients) Continue employment at your sponsoring center for a year past

the end of your contract date. This is called a commitment year. (BA/BS & AA recipients)

Center

By signing the contract, the center is agreeing to:

Pay 10% of tuition and books Provide paid release time to the

recipients (BA/BS & AA eligible participants)

Complete and return the Release Time

Reimbursement Claim by the due date Provide the scholarship recipient a raise

or bonus as designated in the contract at the end of the contract (BA/BS & AA students). The raise or bonus is above and beyond any regularly scheduled raise or bonus given

Notify the CCCCD within 10 days of

any changes of recipient’s employment status

Contact your T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Counselor immediately if you will not be able to uphold your commitment.

PAPERWORK

T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Recipient

Contract (Form A)—Legal contract outlining responsibility and commitment.

Reimbursement Claim (Form B)—Used to reimburse tuition, travel and books. The form

is sent in a continuation packet** (BA/BS & AA) or an acceptance packet.

Information Update Form (Form G)—Informs T.E.A.C.H. of any change of information,

expected graduation date or salary increases.

Employment Verification Form (EVF)—Verifies employment so that student may receive the

credential and possibly a bonus for classes that were successfully passed .

Registration/Tuition Statement—Statement(s) from the college/university that shows name of class

and the cost of tuition.

Center

Release Time Reimbursement Claim (Form C)— Identifies

and verifies number of hours of release time given to student.

Agency Profile Form (Form D)—Form used to report

important information to T.E.A.C.H. about a center or family/

group provider.

Contract (Form A)—Legal contract outlining your

responsibility and commitment.

Agency Profile Form

Contract Registration/Tuition Statement Form G Applications for New Participants

Form B (and Book Receipt)

Employment Verification Form

Paperwork

Form C (BA/BS and AA)

Bachelor and Associate Degree Students will receive new paperwork during this month

Paperwork that is received will be for this semester

June Fall October Spring March Summer

**Associate/Bachelor Degree Recipients New paperwork will be sent to you during the current semester for the next semester.

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Valid Book Purchases Bookstore

Invoice from online purchase that shows book title and how

much book costs

T.E.A.C.H. is unable to reimburse books bought from the following;

Financial Aid Friend, coworker, etc.

Travel Every semester a student attends class(es) she/he

will receive a travel stipend for $75.00, regardless of mileage that was driven.

Gas receipts are not required for the reimbursement.

All students must send T.E.A.C.H. their Form B to claim her/his travel stipend.

T.E.A.C.H. is unable to reimburse for taxi, bus or parking fees.

TUITION, BOOKS, AND TRAVEL

Tuition T.E.A.C.H. will pay for the tuition of approved classes that are considered

a part of an Early Childhood Education Degree including any developmental courses that are needed.

Students do not need to pay for their tuition up front if all of their paperwork has been submitted to T.E.A.C.H.

Books Students or centers can either pay for their books upfront and be reimbursed later

or charge books to the their T.E.A.C.H. account. (see page 23 for more details)

To help T.E.A.C.H. process your book reimbursement faster, send T.E.A.C.H. a book receipt as soon as the semester starts

or promptly after any books have been purchased.

PURGE DATE

Frequently Asked Questions about Purge Dates

How do I know when the purge date is for my college/university? The Registrar’s or Cashier’s Office should be able to tell you when the last day is for tuition to be paid. You can also ask your T.E.A.C.H. Counselor. I went to my first class and I wasn’t on the roll. What is happening? Either you were dropped from your class for non-payment during purge, or during registration you were not enrolled in the class. Also, a student could be dropped from the class because she/he does not meet the prerequisites. When I registered for my classes, there was an outstanding balance on my account. Please explain this. Outstanding balances can consist of late fees, background checks, or out-of-county tuition fees which T.E.A.C.H. is unable to pay. A balance can also be from classes that were dropped after the 100% refund date or that were withdrawn. If the balance is the amount of your previous classes’ tuition, then call your T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Counselor. Will T.E.A.C.H. pay for late fees associated with being dropped/purged from a class? At some colleges/universities, if a student is dropped from his/her class after the purge date for non-payment, then a late fee is issued to the student’s account for re-registering for that class. T.E.A.C.H. does not pay for this fee. What happens when my classes are dropped from the purge? If there is space available and you are willing to pay for a late fee (where applicable), go to the registrar’s office and register for the class. Also, contact your T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Counselor.

What is a Purge Date? The purge date, also known as the Fee Payment Due date, is the date set by the college/university

when tuition must be paid. All tuition fees must be paid by this date. If tuition is not paid by this date,

or a student’s classes are not held by a charge approval, classes will be purged (dropped) from the

registration database at the college/university. Many colleges/universities charge to re-register into

these classes—if there is available space in the class. In order for a student’s classes not to be purged,

T.E.A.C.H. must receive all required paperwork before this date.

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DROPPING, WITHDRAWING, OR FAILING A CLASS

What happens if I fail a class?

T.E.A.C.H. understands that situations may arise that affect the ability of a

student to pass a class. In lieu of this, T.E.A.C.H. will pay for the tuition of a

class that was failed. T.E.A.C.H. will also pay for the student to retake the class.

If the student does not pass the course the second time, T.E.A.C.H. is unable to

pay for the student to take the class a third time.

Note: Each college/university determines what constitutes a failing grade for general education and early childhood development classes. Some classes must

have a passing grade of a “C” or better while other departments may accept a lower grade. Contact your advisor for more information.

What if I drop, withdraw or fail a class?

1st Failed Class No penalty from T.E.A.C.H.

2nd Failed Class T.E.A.C.H. will pay for the tuition but is unable

to pay for student to take the class the 3rd time

Any Dropped Class after the 100% refund date The student repays the tuition Any Withdrawn Class The student repays the tuition

If you are in danger of failing, dropping, or withdrawing from a class—speak with

your instructor and your

T.E.A.C.H. counselor immediately.

Each semester the college/university sets a deadline for the last day to drop classes for a 100% refund and the last day to withdraw from classes.

Look at your college/university’s website or academic calendar for these dates.

It is the student’s responsibility to

drop or withdraw from class(es).

The college/university does NOT

automatically drop or withdraw

students from class, even if the

student has never attended or

stopped attending.

What is the difference between dropping and withdrawing from a class?

When a student drops a class, there will be no record of the class on

the transcript. However, when a student withdraws from a class,

(s)he will receive a grade of “W”. If a student drops the class before

the 100% refund date, then there will be no charge for the class.

When a student drops after the 100% refund date or withdraws from a

class, the student will be responsible for paying the tuition.

CLASSES & FINANCIAL AID

Financial Aid

Am I required to apply for financial aid?

All associate and bachelor degree recipi-ents must apply for federal/state financial aid to be accepted into the program.

How do I renew my financial aid?

A student can apply online at www.fafsa.gov. (This is a free application for federal student aid. Be aware of web-sites that want to charge applicants for filing your application.) Also, students can apply at the financial aid office at his/her local college/university.

How often do I apply for financial aid?

Students must apply every year for financial aid. Students should apply right after filing their federal taxes. Applying early helps ensure that federal aid funds will be available and may qualify individuals for additional grants. Without confirmation that students have renewed their financial aid, T.E.A.C.H. is unable to approve upcoming classes.

What happens if I don’t qualify for financial aid?

If a student is not eligible for financial aid or financial aid does not pay for all of the tuition, T.E.A.C.H. will pay for the student’s tuition. Financial aid awards the most money to students who are full-time students. T.E.A.C.H. does not require students to attend school full-time.

I received a refund check from financial aid. What should I do? In some instances, a student has been awarded more financial aid money than the cost of her/his tuition. In this case, a refund check is sent to her/him. Please call your T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Coun-selor to ensure that the check is correct.

Classes

How do I register for classes? Depending on the procedures of your college or university, you can register for class(es) online or in person at the registrar’s office. Contact your advisor (ECD Coordinator) to ask if you need to be advised first.

What is a charge approval? A charge approval is a fax that is sent to the college’s/university’s Business Office that states T.E.A.C.H. will pay for a recipient’s tuition. When T.E.A.C.H. has received all necessary paperwork (i.e. contract, registration statement, proof of financial aid, etc.), T.E.A.C.H. will fax a charge approval that specifically states which classes we will pay. Even if students have received other sources of financial aid, they still need to notify T.E.A.C.H. of their classes before the purge date. T.E.A.C.H. staff is not authorized to verbally confirm that they can pay for classes over the phone with college/university staff. A fax or email to the business office is the only valid method of approval.

How are my classes paid? After T.E.A.C.H. sends a charge approval, the Business Office will put a hold on your class so that it will not be purged. The hold not only guarantees that the class(es) will be paid for, but it also ensures that your classes will not be dropped for non-payment. This does not necessarily mean that the tuition has been paid at that time, but an agreement has been put into place stating that T.E.A.C.H. will pay for the tuition.

There is a balance on my account. When will my classes be paid? Many colleges do not actually bill T.E.A.C.H. for the class(es) until all class additions and withdraws have been made. Colleges may also wait to send the bill until financial aid has had an opportunity to apply any late awards. T.E.A.C.H. is billed for all of the T.E.A.C.H. recipients at one time not on an individual basis. T.E.A.C.H. pays for the tuition when it receives the bill.

How many classes can I take each semester? T.E.A.C.H. will pay up to three classes per semester. If a student does not have any previous college coursework, then T.E.A.C.H. will only pay for one class the first semester, then two classes the following semester (upon successful completion of classes), and finally three classes the third semester. If a recipi-ent would like to take more classes than the amount T.E.A.C.H. will allow, they need to either pay for the classes themselves or with financial aid.

What should I do if I change my schedule? If a recipient makes any changes to their schedule, he/she must send or fax it to T.E.A.C.H. immediately to ensure that classes will be paid. The student is responsible for notifying T.E.A.C.H. of this change, not the college/university.

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FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

SCHOLARSHIP COSTS T.E.A.C.H. Pays Center Pays Recipient Pays

Tuition 80% 10% 10%

Books 80% 10% 10%

Travel $75.00 to the recipient — —

Contract Bonus AA & BA/BS Degree Only

$300.00 (AA) $600.00 (BA/BS)

$300.00 or 2% salary raise (AA)

$600.00 or 4% salary raise (BA/BS)

—

CENTER TEACHER OR DIRECTOR (NON-OWNER)

SCHOLARSHIP COSTS T.E.A.C.H. Pays Center Pays Recipient Pays

Tuition 80% — 20%

Books 80% — 20%



$300.00 (AA) $600.00 (BA/BS)

—

—

CENTER OWNER

SCHOLARSHIP COSTS T.E.A.C.H. Pays Center Pays Recipient

Pays

Tuition 80% — 20%

Books 80% — 20%



$300.00 (AA) $600.00 (BA/BS)

—

—

FAMILY/GROUP PROVIDER

Student (10%) Child Care Center (10%) Tuition ($430.00) 0.00 0.00

Books 0.00 0.00

Travel ($75.00) 75.00

BALANCE 75.00 (check) 0.00

REIMBURSEMENTS

Reimbursement Example

Example is based on the average tuition from the 16 technical/community colleges, for one class, for a child care center teacher on the credential or associate degree scholarship.

STUDENT pays for books upfront

CHILD CARE CENTER pays for books

T.E.A.C.H. pays for books (books are charged to T.E.A.C.H. account)

Book receipt not submitted/No books are bought

FINANCIAL AID paid for entire amount of tuition and books

Key: A positive number means that a check will be issued. A negative number indicates that an invoice will be sent.

Student (10%) Child Care Center (10%) Tuition ($430.00) -43.00 -43.00

Books 0.00 0.00

Travel ($75.00) 75.00

BALANCE 32.00 (check) -43.00 (invoice)


Books ($100.00) -10.00 -10.00

Travel ($75.00) 75.00



Books ($100.00) -10.00 100.00-10.00 (10%) = 90.00

Travel ($75.00) 75.00

BALANCE 22.00 (check) 47.00 (check)


Books ($100.00) 100.00-10.00 (10%) = 90.00 -10.00

Travel ($75.00) 75.00


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FINANCIAL QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

INVOICES I received an invoice. What does that mean? An invoice indicates that money is owed to T.E.A.C.H. either for tuition and/or books.

When are invoices due? Each invoice has a date on the lower left side which states when it is due. To help offset outstanding balances, T.E.A.C.H. will deduct any outstanding invoices from reimbursements that are owed to the center or recipient. If we have not been contacted by the 90 day past due mark, we may be unable to allow the student or the center to continue with the T.E.A.C.H. program for future semesters.

TRAVEL STIPEND Where is my $75 check for my travel reimbursement? Unless a recipient receives enough financial aid to pay for all of his/her tuition, the 10% or 20% of tuition and book(s) that the student owes T.E.A.C.H will be deducted from the student’s travel reimbursement. This normally results in a small check sent to the recipient. To obtain the travel reimbursement students must submit their Reimbursement Claim Form-Form B.

PROCESSING REIMBURSEMENTS When can a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Counselor start processing reimbursements? A T.E.A.C.H. Counselor can start processing reimbursements as early as two weeks after classes start, but may wait to receive the bill from the college/university to ensure accuracy of the cost of tuition.

How long will it take for me to receive my check or invoice? After the reimbursement has been processed, it will typically take two to four weeks to receive the check. Invoices are printed every 60 days.

Why does it take so long? To ensure accuracy during our reimbursement process, several authorizations are included to ensure T.E.A.C.H. is being a good steward of our grant money. After we process the reimburse-ment, it undergoes many rigorous in-house approvals. Then, it is sent to our accounting firm who prints the checks. The checks are then brought back to our office and prepared for a speedy delivery to our recipients.

Why haven’t I received my reimbursement yet? One or more of the following reasons could delay your reimbursement: T.E.A.C.H. has not received a Form B, tuition statement, book receipt, or your counselor is waiting for the college/university bill.

PAYING FOR TUITION Do I ever pay for my classes myself? Students should not have to pay for tuition upfront, if they have submitted their application and sent/faxed all necessary paperwork well ahead of the purge date. Students may need to pay for tuition if they have not given T.E.A.C.H. staff sufficient time to process their application or paperwork so that a charge approval can be faxed to the college/university.

Do I pay the college/university the 10% or 20% that I owe for tuition? Recipients always pay the CCCCD directly for the 10% or 20% that they owe. Students will be accessed the portion they owe when the reimbursement is processed.

When does the student pay for 10% or 20% of the tui-tion? Recipients will have the 10% or 20% of tuition that they owe deducted from the $75 travel stipend that is allotted to them every semester. If the amount of the travel is greater than the 10% or 20% of tuition then a check will be mailed. If the travel stipend is not enough to cover the tuition costs, then an invoice will be mailed.

How does the center pay for 10% of tuition? The center will be billed for the 10% of tuition they owe for each of their employees. The center’s reimbursement is processed at the same time of the recipient’s reimbursement.

Does T.E.A.C.H. pay for out-of-county or late fees? Out-of-county tuition, late fees, and background checks are the responsibility of the student. These fees will need to be paid before a student is able to receive her/his grades or register for the following semester.

RELEASE TIME

Number of hours worked at center

Number of release time hours claimed

Total amount paid to student Total amount of release time paid to the center

37 hours @ $6.00 hr 3 hours 37 hrs + 3 release time hrs = 40 hrs 40 hrs x $6.00/hr = $240.00

3 hrs x $7.50 = $22.50 per week

Example: A student is taking a three credit course and normally works 40 hours per week at $6.00 per hour.

With release time: Employee works 37 hours in the center but is paid for 40 hours at $6.00/ hr. The center claims three hours of release time per week and is reimbursed at $7.50/hr.

What is Release Time? Release Time is an integral and necessary part of the success of the T.E.A.C.H. Bachelor and

Associate Degree program. It is paid time away from work for students to go to class, study or attend to personal errands.

Who is Eligible? Child Care Center teachers or Family/Group providers participating in the T.E.A.C.H.

Associate or Bachelor Degree Scholarship

How it works: T.E.A.C.H. reimburses centers or family/group providers to hire a substitute or shuffle a floater, director or

another teacher within the center to cover the teacher’s absence while they are released from work.

The amount of release time that can be claimed every week is equal to the number of credit hours the employee is taking. Example: ECD 107 is 3 credits which equates to 3 hours per week of release time that may be claimed.

The maximum number of hours that may be reimbursed to the center is six hours per week.

T.E.A.C.H. will reimburse the center or family/group provider 75% of the valid release time hours at the rate of $10.00/hour (this is equivalent to $7.50/hour).

When students are released they are paid their regular rate of pay.

Release Time Tips: Some classes include a lab. Unfortunately, T.E.A.C.H. is only able to reimburse the center the amount of

release time that is equal to the number of credits the class is worth even though the class may require additional time. Be aware that during the summer semester, classes usually require more time than the normal hours it takes to attend classes during the fall or spring semester.

Centers should not wait to be reimbursed by T.E.A.C.H. to pay their employees the release time. Release time should be included in the employee’s regularly scheduled paycheck.

The Center or Family/Group Provider claims release time hours on the Release Time Reimbursement Claim form (Form C) and submits it to T.E.A.C.H. either monthly or after each semester, so long as it is before the 10th of the following month after the semester ends.

Maximum number of release time hours that can be claimed

1 credit = 1 hour of paid release time

3 credits = 3 hours per week



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RELEASE TIME

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL RELEASE TIME

Begin with an open dialogue between the scholarship recipient and director to ensure understand-ing of program before the semester starts. If there are any questions, please call your T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Counselor.

Discuss the hours during the day and specifically which days of the week that are most appropriate

for the recipient to be released. This will help the student to decide which classes to take when (s)he registers for classes.

As necessary, balance or limit the number of staff who will receive release time in overlapping

time periods.

RELEASE TIME EXAMPLES FROM MOST TO LEAST DESIRABLE

Recipient attends class for 2 hours during the day (i.e. 3-5pm). She or he is paid at their normal rate of pay for attending class and working a 6 hour day, totaling 8 hours. The center or family/ group provider is then reimbursed for the time (2 hours) the employee is out of the center.

Recipient attends and is paid for a 2 hour evening class (i.e. 7-9 pm). She/he is scheduled for a

shorter 6 hour work day, totaling 8 hours. Recipient is paid for attending an evening, weekend, or internet class and is scheduled for fewer

work hours during the week (paid class time and fewer work hours equals normal full-time hours). Recipient works and is paid for an 8 hour day and attends a 2 hour class in the evening. This

results in the recipient working 42 hours in the week, thus, receiving overtime pay for 2 hours.

Return to T.E.A.C.H. by:

January 10th

June 10th

September 10th

Release Time Form C Due Dates

Semester Ends

December

May

August

GRADES AND DSS TRAINING HOURS

South Carolina DSS Child Care Training Credit for College Courses

The South Carolina Child Care Training System documents all child care training hours registered with the Center for Child Care Career Development (CCCCD) to meet the annual Department of Social Services (DSS) requirements. If you take a college course within the calendar year, and the course pertains to an early child-hood topic, you could earn DSS credit. The course will only count for the year in which it was taken. When you complete a course:

Download and complete the Request for College Coursework Credit form from the website

(www.sc-ccccd.net). Please fill out one form for each semester. If you are unable to download the form, contact CCCCD toll free at 1-866-845-1555.

Attach a copy of your grade report issued by the college. The grade report must include your name

printed by the college.

Mail the completed information and your grade report to:

Center for Child Care Career Development South Carolina Child Care Training Registry

PO Box 5616 Greenville, SC 29606-5616

* The DSS credit earned will be reflected on your next annual transcript. Letters of confirmation will no longer be mailed to participants; however, you may verify the DSS credit that will be awarded for completing each course by viewing the college course tab or your transcript on our website.

** Mail or fax in your grades as soon as the semester ends. ** Colleges/universities will not automatically send the grade report to the student.

Acceptable grade reports will have your name and your college/university’s name printed on it.

Grades can be obtained through:

the internet using your college/university website

or from the Records Office (ask the personnel to print your grades on letterhead

or to use a stamp if the college’s name is not on the report)

Child Care Training System

http://www.sc-ccccd.net/�

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More Information about Bonuses and Salary Raises

Do I receive a bonus every time I complete a contract or after I have completed 9 credits? A recipient is eligible to receive a bonus after the contract has been completed and (s)he has completed 9 credits with a grade of “C” or higher. Refer to the top of the contract to find when the contract year will be completed.

Why haven’t I received my bonus from T.E.A.C.H.? T.E.A.C.H. may be missing valid grades or waiting for your contract to be completed. If ECD 101 or SAC 101 were taken while participating in the Associate Degree Scholarship, then the three credits earned will not count toward the 9-15 credits that is required. So, if a student took ECD 101 or SAC 101 and did not complete an additional 9 credits, (s) he is not eligible for a contract bonus.

What happens if I don’t complete 9 credit hours during a contract? If a student did not successfully pass nine credits during a contract year, he/she is not eligible for a bonus. If the contract is renewed, the recipient will have another opportunity during the next year to complete nine credits.

What if I don’t want to take classes for a semester, can I still receive a bonus? Students are not required to attend class every semester, so long as during their contract year they are able to complete at least nine credits. If a student completes nine credits during his/her contract year, then (s)he will be eligible for a bonus. Your counselor may place you inactive or withdrawn after two semesters of no contact or not taking any classes.

How do I know which option (bonus or salary raise) my center has chosen for me? Please refer to letter “E” under the center’s section on the contract.

How will my center know that I have completed my contract and that it is time to start giving me my bonus or salary raise? After T.E.A.C.H. has determined that you are eligible for a contract bonus, a letter will be sent notifying both you and your center of your accomplishments.

What happens if I have not received the bonus or raise from my center? Please ask your director if (s)he has received the letter notification from T.E.A.C.H. If you need further assistance, please call your scholarship counselor.

BACHELOR/ASSOCIATE DEGREE BONUS OR SALARY RAISE

T.E.A.C.H. HELPS TO INCREASE COMPENSATION: BONUS & SALARY RAISE BREAKDOWN COMPENSATION

OPTIONS

T.E.A.C.H. Pays

Center Pays

Bachelor Degree

Bonus

$600.00

$600.00

Bachelor Degree Salary Raise

$600.00

4% salary raise

Associate Degree

Bonus

$300.00

$300.00

Associate Degree Salary Raise

$300.00

2% salary raise

When should Center pay?

After receiving letter notification from T.E.AC.H—pay first installment of

$300. In six months, pay second installment of $300.

In the following paycheck after receiving letter notification.

After receiving letter notification from T.E.A.C.H.—pay first installment of

$150. In six months, pay second installment of $150.

In the following paycheck after receiving letter notification.

When will T.E.A.C.H. pay?

When contract has been completed and T.E.A.C.H. has

received valid grades







SOUTH CAROLINA CREDENTIALS

South Carolina Credentials Will student who works in a

child care facility receive bonus? What class(es) does student need to take?

Early Childhood Yes

$200.00 paid by T.E.A.C.H. ECD 101

Infant Toddler* Yes

$500.00 paid by T.E.A.C.H. ECD 101, ECD 102, ECD 200, ECD 205,

ECD 207 & ECD 251

School-Age Yes

$100.00 paid by T.E.A.C.H. SAC 101

Director* Yes

$300.00 paid by T.E.A.C.H. ECD 101, ECD 108, ECD 109, ECD 201

* based upon the availability of funds

How can a student receive the credential(s)? Complete and send T.E.A.C.H. an Employment Verification Form and valid grade(s).

How can a student receive the bonus offered for the credentials? Students who are currently working in childcare are eligible to receive a bonus for the Director, Early Childhood,

Infant Toddler and School-Age Credentials. The student and his/her director/owner must complete and send T.E.A.C.H. an Employment Verification Form and valid grade(s).

How long does it take to process? Typically, after T.E.A.C.H. receives all completed paperwork, the credential and bonus will take two to four

weeks to be mailed out to the recipient.

Is there an expiration date on the credential? All of the credentials awarded by the Center for Child Care Career Development do not have an expiration date. The credentials are recognized by both the SC Department of Social Services and the ABC Child Care Program.

What if I took my classes several years ago? All coursework taken from January 2001 until now, from an accredited college/university, is eligible to be

considered for the credentials. ECD 101 and SAC 101 are the only two courses that must be completed at a South Carolina technical/community college to be eligible for the credential and bonus.

I forgot to send in my paperwork from when I previously took the class(es). Am I still eligible to receive the credential(s) or bonus(es)?

Students who previously took classes, after January 2001, and did not submit paperwork for either the credential or bonus are still eligible to receive the credential and/or bonus. Again, to be eligible for the bonus, recipients

would need to be currently working in childcare.

What if I have lost my credential? Please contact the Center for Child Care Career Development to have your credential reissued.

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BACHELOR OF ARTS/SCIENCE DEGREE INFORMATION

Who is eligible to receive the Bachelor of Arts/Science Degree Scholarship? Any child care professional earning at or below the income cap of $21.15 per hour, if you are a director/owner, or $14.45 per hour, if you are a teacher. Eligible child care providers must work with children between the ages of 0-5, work at least 30 hours per week in a licensed or registered program by the South Carolina Department of Social Services, and have an Associate Degree in the field of Early Care and Education or at least 55 hours of transferable credit.

What do I have to do to participate in T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD® SOUTH CAROLINA? In order to participate, interested child care professionals need to complete an application including the following:

pay verification of current employment in a child care program a copy of the admission letter and transcript evaluation from the participating university a transcript verifying completion of an Associate Degree or 55 credit hours and confirmation that the student has applied for Financial Aid (www.fafsa.ed.gov).

Where can I earn my Bachelor of Arts/Science Degree in Early Care and Education? Please contact the CCCCD for the current list of participating colleges and universities.

Do I have to take the PRAXIS I to be admitted to the participating university? No. However, you will not be accepted into the Early Childhood Teacher Certification Program until you have successfully passed the PRAXIS I.

What is my commitment during the semester I must complete my student teaching requirement? In order to participate during the semester of student teaching, the child care professional must submit a separate application and remain employed for 10 hours per week at their sponsoring center. The sponsoring center may submit release time forms claiming up to 15 hours per week. T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD® SOUTH CAROLINA will compensate the child care professional with a stipend of $3,000 ($750 for 4 months) for that semester.

If I work in a child care center, what is the center’s responsibility? A child care center must agree to provide verification of an applicant’s employment status, proof of wages, pay 10% of tuition and books, agree to participate in release time, and provide a salary raise or bonus after successful completion of each contract.

What happens if I leave my sponsoring center? A child care professional that leaves their sponsoring center will be required to reimburse the SOUTH CAROLINA Center for Child Care Career Development and the sponsoring center for the total cost of tuition and books.

What is my commitment to my sponsoring center when I graduate? The child care professional must agree to make the commitment to remain with the same employer for one year after successfully completing all requirements to earn the Bachelor of Arts/Science Degree in Early Care and Education.

What is the difference between certification and non-certification programs? Certification programs with a four year institution will provide opportunities to be a certified early childhood (PK-3) educator in the State of South Carolina. Non-certification programs provide opportunities to earn a Bachelor degree in the field of Child Studies or Family and Consumer Sciences.

RECIPIENTS: GAINING SUPPORT FOR YOUR EDUCATION

Students will be most successful in the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood South Carolina Scholarship Program if they have a high level of support.

The ideas below should help others see how important your education is and gain interest of others.

Support from your College/University

Talk to your instructor if you encounter difficulty with your classes. Each college provides tutoring and other support services.

Ask your instructor for assistance if you have a

disability and need help. Each college has a counselor to assist students with disabilities.

Join or start a study group for your class(es).

Support from T.E.A.C.H.

Let your T.E.A.C.H.

Counselor know if you

see a problem arising. Your

counselor may be able to assist you

with solutions.

Call your T.E.A.C.H. Counselor if

you are feeling stressed by

balancing family, work, and school.

Your counselor may be able to share

some ideas and help you.

Support from Parents

Announce your scholarship award

to parents by sending a

special note home with

the children or put it in

your child care center’s

newsletter.

Share some of the ideas you learn

with the parents of the children in

your child care program.

21

Other Suggestions Highlight the teacher on a center bulletin board.

Acknowledge significant educational milestones or achievements (President’s Honor

Roll, completed SC Early Childhood Credential, etc.)

Ask the teacher to share ideas from her/his class at a staff meeting.

Ask the teacher periodically how classes are going and if she/he needs any help. If you

see a problem arising, let the Center for Child Care Career Development know. The

T.E.A.C.H. Counselor can provide any assistance necessary.

Support efforts to attend statewide and national early childhood conferences.

EMPLOYERS: ADDITIONAL WAYS TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES

The Center for Child Care Career Development has found that teachers who have a high level of support are the most successful in their educational pursuits.

The following is a list of ways to recognize and support teachers participating in T.E.A.C.H. and to help teachers see the value of their efforts:

Announce the teacher’s scholarship award:

at a parent meeting

by sending a special note home with

the children in the teacher’s class

at a staff meeting

in a staff newsletter

at a board meeting (if applicable)

in a local resource and referral newsletter

or in the teacher’s church bulletin

ADVOCACY—SUPPORTING T.E.A.C.H.

Tell others!

Co-workers Other students

Parents of the children in your child care program High school seniors interested in early childhood

Join Professional Organizations and Clubs:

Attend or start an Early Childhood Club at your college/university

NAEYC-National Association of the Education of Young Children

SCAEYC—SC Association of the Education of Young Children

SCECA—SC Early Childhood Association

SECA-Southern Early Childhood Association

Ideas to Help Support T.E.A.C.H.:

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about how the T.E.A.C.H. program has affected you

Write an article to a parenting magazine about how the T.E.A.C.H. program has affected you (i.e. Upstate Parent)

Attend a Candidate Forum

Vote!

Attend conferences/lectures to become more knowledgeable about early childhood issues

Organize a letter-raiser—brief a group of people on an issue or legislative bill and have them write personal, hand-written letters that can be mailed immediately

Attend a Town Meeting

How is TEACH Funded?

T.E.A.C.H. is funded by South Carolina’s Department of Social

Services using Childcare Development Funds that are generated from a federal

grant. Any state or federal bills that directly involve the amount or

distribution of the money from this grant may affect the ability of T.E.A.C.H. to award scholarships.

Do’s

Specifically ask for support for your position

Address your legislator properly (The Honorable John Doe)

Write legibly and include your address

Be brief and state how the issue affects you or someone you love

Try to identify a bill by number and title

Ask the legislator to state his/her position in their reply

Write your legislator when they do something of which you approve

Dont’s

Do not send a postcard or email (it is very impersonal)

Do not sign and send a form letter

Do not be rude or threatening

Do not send a copy of your letter to other legislators; write each one individually

Do not write more than one to one and a half pages

Do not forget to identify yourself as a consumer, parent, etc.

Contact Your Representatives:

Go to www.scstatehouse.net to find your legislators.

Call, meet, or write a letter to your legislator to share your views on

early childhood issues.

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