T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® MISSOURI is an educational scholarship opportunity for early childhood providers in licensed centers and family or group child care homes. Based on the belief that Teacher Education And Compensation Helps, T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI is part of a nationwide effort to increase quality in early childhood programs by increasing the educational qualifications of the teachers in the field. Working directly with licensed early childhood programs, T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI is rooted in four fundamental components: scholarship, education, compensation and commitment.
The project is administered by the Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network (MOCCRRN). In 1999, MOCCRRN was awarded a license by the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project in North Carolina to implement the T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI Scholarship Project. The first scholarship awards were made in 2000 to 50 providers in seven counties. Today, scholarships are available statewide. Since 2000, T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI has grown significantly in number of scholarship recipients, child care programs sponsoring an employee and colleges and universities in which scholarship recipients enroll.
Missouri is one of 21 states offering this very successful program linking education, compensation and retention to improve the quality of care and education for young children. The four components of the T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI program are:
- Scholarship – T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI pays a percentage of the cost of tuition and books
- Education – The T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI contract year covers 9 to 15 credit hours over three consecutive semesters
- Compensation – Upon successful completion of coursework, scholarship recipients receive a $300 bonus from
T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI with a possible $300 bonus match or a 2% raise from the sponsoring employer depending on the scholarship level - Commitment – Recipients pledge to complete 6 to 12 months of continued service to children at their sponsoring facility or in the field of early care after the educational year
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“When I started this business six years ago, I could not believe the things that I didn’t know versus the things I thought I knew. This program has increased my thirst for knowledge and my desire to be a positive force in the lives of the children and their families. This scholarship is a nail in the coffin of ignorance. Thanks to the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship, I am on my way to my degree. Education is possible for those 50 years and over.” – Scholarship recipient, Sharon J. |
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The Goals of the T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI Scholarship:
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