TAMPA, FL (Wednesday, February 20, 2019) – The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELCHC) is introducing a new salary supplement program to assist early childhood educators.
Child care professionals who work in early learning programs with current School Readiness contracts may be eligible to receive stipends between $200 to $3,000 based on their education and continuity of employment. The more education an early childhood teacher receives, the higher the earning potential!
According to the Center for American Progress, child care workers’ salaries are less than $29,000 per year. The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment stated that nearly half of all child care workers are enrolled in at least one public assistance program.
The desired outcome of this program is to improve child care quality by financially assisting early childhood educators, reducing turnover and encouraging continued education.
The supplemental salary initiative, called the Child Care WAGE$ Program, is funded by the ELCHC and will be overseen by the Children’s Forum, which administers similar wage supplement programs in Miami-Dade, Broward and Pinellas counties.
Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELCHC)
Established by the State Legislature, the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELCHC) is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on promoting school and life success for young children and their families through quality school readiness services and supports. The ELCHC administers School Readiness and VPK (Voluntary Prekindergarten) programs in Hillsborough County, offers teacher trainings and coaching, and provides Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) along with other services that daily serve more than 20,000 children and their families.
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To learn more about the WAGE$ program, please visit www.elchc.org/providers