In 1998, Governor Lawton Chiles authorized $2 million to bring the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood Scholarship Program to Florida. The Children’s Forum, a statewide nonprofit membership organization for early childhood educators and directors, is the authorized administrator. Private funds from the American Business Collaboration for Quality Dependent Care, a partnership of 22 large companies, also supported T.E.A.C.H. in Florida initially.
T.E.A.C.H. is a nationwide program designed to support the educational advancement of teachers, directors and family child care providers working with young children in early learning settings. It focuses on improving the education, compensation, and retention of early educators by offering scholarships for associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education, as well as for renewing credentials like the Florida Staff Credential and National Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials. Eligible participants include Florida early educators, center directors, and family child care educators who are employed by a licensed or registered program, hold a high school diploma or GED, and who work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week with children ages birth to five.
Scholarship amounts vary according to the type of program, but T.E.A.C.H. generally covers 80-90% of tuition, 90-100% of the cost of books, 85% of any renewal fee, and a $200-$300 stipend per semester. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships also reimburse students’ employers for paid release time at a rate equaling Florida’s minimum wage plus $2.00 per hour.
T.E.A.C.H. is now funded by the Florida Division of Early Learning. In 2024, the state increased funding for the program from $7 million to $17 million.
Since launching in Florida, T.E.A.C.H. has awarded 47,500 scholarships.
Sources:
TEACH Early Childhood Florida. (n.d.). General Information.
TEACH Early Childhood Florida. (n.d.). About Us.
TEACH Early Childhood Florida. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions.
TEACH Early Childhood National Center. (n.d.). TEACH Early Childhood.
Florida Department of Children and Families. (n.d.). Staff Credential.
Jacobson, L. (1998, March 18). Rules for Fla. Child Centers Said To Be Beneficial. Education Week.
Connections to Key Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) Findings:
The early education workforce is the foundation upon which all daily work and any expansion and quality improvement efforts rest. Research suggests that states and cities should invest in the workforce across all early education setting types, focusing on enhancing educators’ professional learning, compensation, and workplace conditions.
Findings from the Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) show:
- Early educators play a critical role in supporting the well-being of young children and families across setting types.
- Yet their pay, benefits, and other professional supports are often inadequate in light of the job demands and their cost of living.