Spotlight On: T.E.A.C.H.

T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships Increase Teachers' Education and Compensation While Reducing Staff Turnover

More than 44,000 people are working directly with children in licensed or licensed-exempt early care and education settings in Florida, touching more than 600,000 children each day. Teachers are the primary determinants of quality in the classroom, and better trained teachers can bring about better child outcomes. Additionally, the stability of teachers working with young children is important for healthy growth and development. Yet national data show 3-4 out of 10 individuals employed in a child care setting will leave within the first year of employment due to low wages and benefits, a stressful work environment and little opportunity for advancement.

To improve opportunities for the early childhood workforce and outcomes for young children, the Children's Forum administers the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program, a comprehensive program for early childhood providers and center directors to work towards an A.S. degree (or B.S. degree in limited areas of the state) in early childhood education, a Child Development Associate credential, a Florida Staff Credential or a Director Credential. T.E.A.C.H. scholarship recipients receive a raise or bonus after successful completion of each scholarship contract and agree to work at their sponsoring child care programs for an additional year after each scholarship commitment ends.

T.E.A.C.H. involves a 3-way partnership for the sharing of expenses by the scholarship recipient, the child care center or family child care home sponsoring the recipient and the T.E.A.C.H. program. The costs to each partner vary according to the position of the recipient (teacher, director or family home provider) and the type of credential or degree being sought. Generally, the T.E.A.C.H. program pays about 70-80 percent of the costs of tuition and books and offers a stipend for travel or other expenses.

Since 1998, more than 20,000 scholarships have been awarded through T.E.A.C.H., resulting in 5,526 CDA Credentials, 1,388 Director Credentials, 5,619 completed Associate Contracts, and 108 completed Bachelor Contracts. The average increase in wages for Associate and Bachelors degree recipients is 9 percent after one scholarship contract, 18 percent after two completed scholarship contracts and 27 percent after three completed contracts. Turnover rates have been reduced as well with only 8 percent after one scholarship contract, 6 percent after two completed contracts and 4 percent after three completed contracts.

For more information about T.E.A.C.H., please contact the Children's Forum at 877-FL-TEACH or visit www.thechildrensforum.com/teach.htm.

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Spotlight On: T.E.A.C.H.

T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships Increase Teachers' Education and Compensation While Reducing Staff Turnover