Navigating the TEACH Scholarship Program: Requirements and Opportunities for Early Childhood Educators

Teachers play a vital role in shaping young minds, and ensuring high-quality education is paramount for the success of children and childcare centers. The TEACH (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Scholarship Program is designed to facilitate a system where early childhood educators have access to the education, training, and experiences they need to advance their careers and increase their salaries, all while minimizing financial obstacles. This article outlines the requirements and benefits of the TEACH Scholarship Program, highlighting its impact on educators, childcare centers, and the early childhood education field as a whole.

The Core Principles of TEACH

TEACH is a national strategy that links high-level training and professional learning opportunities with increased compensation and a commitment to remaining in the early learning profession. The program aims to ensure every child in an early childhood setting has access to well-educated and well-compensated teachers. By providing scholarships, TEACH enables teachers to continue their education while maintaining their employment.

TEACH NH: Investing in New Hampshire's Early Childhood Educators

TEACH NH specifically addresses the issue of staff retention that many early childhood education programs in New Hampshire face. The program allows scholarship recipients to enroll in courses at local colleges while working at least 30 hours per week in an early childhood program or family child care center.

Partnership and Support

TEACH NH collaborates with early childhood programs throughout New Hampshire, providing early childhood educators with access to the education they need to thrive. Participating programs agree to contribute a percentage of tuition costs, offer paid release time to facilitate the scholar's success, and guarantee a compensation award upon completion of the contract, which typically spans 6-12 months.

TEACH Scholarship Benefits

The TEACH Scholarship offers a range of benefits designed to support early childhood educators in their pursuit of professional development:

Read also: Understanding Teach Nevada

Tuition and Book Coverage: The scholarship covers the majority of tuition and book costs, significantly reducing the financial burden on educators.
Student Access Stipend: A per-semester stipend ($250 - $300) is provided to help offset additional expenses.
Tiered Bonus Structure: Degree-seeking scholars are eligible for bonuses ranging from $800 to $1,200 for center-based scholars and $1,050 to $1,500 for family child care educators.
Employer Reimbursement: The sponsoring program receives reimbursement for the paid release time provided to scholars, supporting their studies.

TEACH Florida: Strengthening Early Education in the Sunshine State

TEACH Early Childhood® Florida is a state-funded scholarship program focused on strengthening the early education workforce by addressing the cost of professional training, the need for qualified educators, and high staff turnover rates. Through a shared investment model, TEACH helps early educators earn essential credentials, such as the FCCPC Certification, while also supporting the centers that employ them.

Shared Investment Model

The TEACH Florida program operates on a shared investment model, with contributions from TEACH, the sponsoring employer, and the scholar:

TEACH Florida: Covers most of the tuition, fees, and books and provides a stipend each semester. It also reimburses paid release time (up to 48 hours/semester).
Sponsoring Employer: Pays a small portion of tuition (typically 10%) and offers up to 3 hours/week of paid release time. They also approve and support the scholarship application.
Scholar: Completes coursework to earn a credential and commits to staying with the employer for approximately one year after completion.

Benefits for Sponsoring Employers

TEACH Florida offers several benefits for sponsoring centers:

Reduced Financial Burden: TEACH covers the majority of tuition and book costs, easing the financial strain on the center's budget.
Staff Development: The program provides a clear pathway for staff to grow professionally and encourages them to stay and apply their learning in the classroom.
Reimbursement for Paid Release Time: TEACH reimburses the center for paid release time, up to 48 hours per semester, at Florida's minimum wage plus $2/hour.
Administrative and Academic Support: A dedicated TEACH counselor supports each scholar, ensuring smooth paperwork, planning, and progress.

Requirements for Directors (Sponsoring Centers) in Florida

As a sponsoring center in the TEACH Florida program, directors play a vital role by contributing in two key ways:

Tuition Contribution: Covering approximately 10% of the educator's tuition costs.
Paid Release Time: Providing up to 3 hours of paid release time per week for scholars to study or complete coursework.

Directors must also approve the educator's scholarship application and communicate with TEACH regarding any staffing or program changes during the contract period.

The Scholar's Commitment and Support in Florida

TEACH Florida provides scholars with a funded pathway to earn credentials, access dedicated support, and potentially receive bonus incentives. In return, scholars commit to:

Coursework Completion: Successfully completing their training and meeting all program requirements.
Employer Commitment: Remaining at their sponsoring center for a specified period (typically one year) after completing the credential.

What the Scholar Receives

A funded pathway to a credential: TEACH covers most of the cost for tuition, books, and fees for programs like the FCCPC certification, CDA, or college-level coursework.
A stipend each semester: Scholars receive $250-$300 to help with incidental costs like materials, technology, or transportation.
Access to dedicated support: Each scholar is paired with a TEACH counselor who helps guide them through the process-from application to completion.
Eligibility for bonus incentives (if applicable): Those enrolled in degree programs may also qualify for completion bonuses.

Eligibility for T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship

Any childcare teacher working in a part-day program who would like to attend a community college (to earn a certificate, diploma, or A.A.S. in early childhood education) and who has worked at the sponsoring program for at least 9 months is eligible for a scholarship.

Partnering with CCEI to Earn the FCCPC

One accessible way to use TEACH Florida funding is through CCEI’s fully online FCCPC Certification program-a DCF-approved pathway that meets Florida Staff Credential requirements. CCEI supports directors and educators at every step-from enrollment and scholarship application to credential completion. They help navigate the TEACH process, including paperwork, approval, and ensuring funding is secured to cover the cost of training. When paired with TEACH Florida, their program offers a streamlined, affordable way to help staff grow and stay.

Addressing Common Questions

What happens to my application after submission?

Once an application has been completed and submitted by the applicant and sponsoring center, it will be hidden from view as it is being processed.

How do I add my PDF document to the education box?

Once logged in, click on the left menu’s first option Profile, then click on Education. You can then add your PDF document to the corresponding education box.

Read also: Fulbright Application Guide

Why does my application still show “Waiting for Employer” even after approval?

TEACH scholarships for initial early learning credentials (FL Staff and Director), college credits or certificates, and degree-seeking options require sponsorship from your employer.

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