Many colleges and universities offer coursework in child development and day care management. Check with individual institutions for specific classes available in your area:
Wellesley College The National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) Their mission is to ensure that all children, youth, and families have access to high quality programs, activities, and opportunities during non-school hours. They believe that these experiences are essential to the healthy development of children and youth, who then can become effective and capable members of society. Their work bridges the worlds of research, policy and practice. 781-283-2510
Concordia University Concordia University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in school-age care through distance learning. 1-800-211-3370
Not sure what you want to do?
Self-Assessment If you are interested in learning more about yourself and the skills needed to be an excellent program administrator, then please work through this self-assessment. N.C. Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development is composed of N.C. representatives of Head Start, Child Care Resource and Referral, Community Colleges, Cooperative Extension, Division of Child Development, Smart Start, T.E.A.C.H., Department of Public Instruction, Division of Mental Health, and many more organizations that promote good health and good care for young children. They facilitate and coordinate initiatives and provide leadership that will result in a comprehensive early care and education professional development system for the state.
T.E.A.C.H.: Teacher Education and Compensation Helps Early Childhood Project
TEACH scholarships can assist school-age child care providers to gain community college education through scholarships and compensation. To qualify for this program, applicants must work in school-age care programs that are licensed by the NC Division of Child Development. They must work a minimum of 20 hours a week in a child care program and make $14.45 or less per hour. The scholarship benefits, educational requirements, compensation and commitment are defined below. In order to receive TEACH funding, the applicant's employer (child care program) must sponsor the applicant and assume some of the cost of the applicant's education.
Scholarship - 50% tuition paid (50% paid by sponsoring child care program)
50% of books (50% paid by sponsoring child care program)
Travel Stipend ($40/semester)
Education - must enroll in 9-15 hours of community college coursework that is directly related to their work in the child care field.
Compensation - $250 (50% paid by TEACH/50% paid by sponsoring child care program)
Commitment - Applicant must agree to work in sponsoring child care program for 1 year.
For more details on T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood North Carolina, please contact: Child Care Services Association PO Box 231 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 967-3272 Information on the T.E.A.C.H. program (available through the N.C. Community Resource Information System)
Child Care WAGE$ Project
The Child Care WAGE$ Project is a salary supplement program for child care workers that is linked to the educational level of participating providers. Child care teachers, directors, or family child care home providers who meet specific criteria are eligible to participate. Each educational level carries with it an annual supplement that is paid directly to participants in six-month installments, as long as they remain in their child care program. The WAGE$ Project and another project known as the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Health Insurance Program together comprise a larger education/compensation effort known as "NC Cares (Committed to Attracting and Retaining Educated Staff)." The WAGE$ Project and NC Cares as a package are designed to increase compensation, encourage continuing education, and reduce turnover - all important factors that affect the quality of child care.
To be eligible for Child Care WAGE$ bonuses, child care teachers, directors and family child care providers must:
Work in licensed programs in Smart Start counties that help fund the WAGE$ program.
Make less than $11.31 per hour (if a teacher or family child care provider) or less than $14.15 per hour (if a child care center director).
Have the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential or other advanced degrees. Opportunities to earn these are available through the North Carolina Community College System and the UNC System.
Continue to work in the same child care center for at least six months. A teacher receives her bonus once every six months, but if she leaves her child care center, she loses her bonus.
For more details on Child Care WAGE$ Project, please contact: Child Care Services Association PO Box 231 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 967-3272 Information on the Child Care WAGE$ Project (available through the N.C. Community Resource Information System)
