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How do I become a caregiver, preschool teacher or family child care provider? |
| A |
The California Community Colleges are the primary training institutions for those who work with children under the age of five. Some 4-year colleges also offer programs. The colleges provide a variety of certificate and degree programs related to early care and education. The colleges also have career advisors who can help you determine your aptitude for the field and design an educational plan that works for you. The Institute works closely with the colleges and has a designated early childhood professional who can help guide you. Please use our college finder to contact the community college liaison to begin your career.
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| Q |
Do I need a teaching credential to be an early childhood teacher or caregiver? |
| A |
Yes and No! The state of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) offers 6 levels of credentials (called permits) for early childhood teachers. These are listed on the Child Development Permit Matrix. State and federally funded programs require teachers who work in their programs to have a Child Development Permit. Many private programs do not require permits for their staff, but must meet the requirements of community care licensing operated by the Department of Social Services (DSS). These requirements do include college coursework.
Even though a permit is not required, teachers who have the permit are more sought after. The permit requirements are designed in steps that encourage and support progress in your field. Your permit indicates that you have made a commitment to professionalism and have developed the skills and competencies necessary to work effectively with young children and their families.
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| Q |
How can I get funding to help me pay for my education and training? |
| A |
The colleges can help you access student loans, grants and scholarships through their financial aid offices. To encourage people to go into teaching, loan forgiveness programs are also available. This means that student loans used to complete a teacher education program do not have to be paid back if you stay in the field for a specified time. Read more about it on the California Student Aid Commission's web site.
A group called CDTC (Child Development Training Consortium) can also help you to pay for education and training. The
CDTC, funded by the California Department of Education - Child Development Division contracts with community colleges to help child development students cover the costs of their education. CDTC funds can be used to cover a variety of needs including the cost of books, tuition, permits, and special classes. Each college has an advisory board that determines how best to use this money. Contact your college liaison to find out what is available at the campus you choose.
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| Q |
I have heard about a program called CARES that gives money (stipends) to early childhood teachers. What is CARES? |
| A |
In 1998 California voters passed the California Children and Families Act (Proposition 10), an initiative that added a 50 cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes. The money is used to fund education, health, child care and other programs to promote early childhood development from prenatal to age five. Each county has formed a commission to allocate the funds. In Santa Clara County, this is the FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
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The E3 Institute Advancing Excellence in Early Education, a division of WestEd, receives $3,000,000 annually from the Commission to use as incentives for early childhood educators. The CARES program was developed to address problems of compensation and incentives for early childhood professionals. CARES stands for Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards. The program was based on research that says when caregivers are well educated and trained, the children they teach are more successful in school and in life. Research also tells us that many qualified and caring teachers leave the field because pay and incentives are low. CARES stipends are offered to encourage teachers to increase their education and stay in the field. The CARES system is based on educational attainment, professional development, and longevity in the field.
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| Q |
How do I quality for a CARES stipend? |
| A |
There are four community partner agencies who can help you gain access to the CARES program. They are located throughout the county. Please check the Partner Agency Map to find the agency closest to you. To be eligible for a CARES stipend you must:
Have a minimum of 6 ECE (Early Childhood Education units)
Be employed a minimum of 9 months in the same licensed child care center or family child care business
Work directly with children age 5 and under
Provide care at least 15 hours per week
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| Q |
What is the E3 Institute (a.k.a. Institute for Advancing Excellence in Early Education)? |
| A |
The E3 Institute is a group of early childhood professionals concerned about teachers and caregivers. Under the leadership of Yolanda Garcia and WestEd, a large collaborative was formed in 2001 to develop a proposal to FIRST 5 Santa Clara County that would establish a comprehensive support system for teachers and caregivers. This proposal was warmly received by the Commission and has been funded by FIRST 5 Santa Clara County since that time. The Mission of the Institute is: To support and strengthen early childhood professional growth through training, education, recruitment, and financial incentives. In the past two years, E3 Institute has implemented the Power of Preschool Program in addition to CARES.
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