12 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
(Countywide)- Twelve scholarships are available for child care professionals in Yavapai County through a grant from First Things First (FTF). The T.E.A.C.H. scholarships will be awarded to child care providers who wish to obtain their Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Development or Child Development Associate Credential (CDA).
In order to qualify, child care providers must have a high school diploma or GED, be at least 18 years of age, and work at least 30 hours per week with kids birth to 5 years old at a licensed child care facility. For additional eligibility criteria, please visit www.asccaz.org.
“T.E.A.C.H. has opened the doors to new opportunities for growth and professional development, and has increased my personal and professional confidence,” states Anelizabeth Marlowe, the owner and director of a child care group home in Prescott Valley. Anelizabeth currently receives a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship and will complete her Associates Degree in December.
The scholarships cover 80% of the cost of tuition and required coursework and 90% of textbook costs. T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) is a national program based out of North Carolina that works to ensure young children have access to a high quality early education by helping their teachers develop their professional skills.
Arizona is one of 20 states nationwide that participate in T.E.A.C.H., and the program is administered in Arizona by the Association for Supportive Child Care (ASCC) under contract with First Things First. First Things First, created by Arizona voters, works to expand and enhance education and health services for kids 5 and younger. FTF has funded approximately 630 scholarships for teachers and caregivers since the program began in 2009.
Twenty-four T.E.A.C.H. scholarships are currently being awarded to child care professionals in Yavapai County, and twelve are still available. For more information on T.E.A.C.H. or how to apply, please visit http://www.asccaz.org or call Dawn Henry of the Association for Supportive Child Care at 1-800-535-4599 X 1145.
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