WAGE$

Introducing Child Care WAGE$^® FLORIDA

The Child Care WAGE$^® FLORIDA Project is designed to provide young children with more stable relationships with teachers (a key component of quality) by rewarding teacher education and continuity of care. This program provides education-based salary supplements to early childhood teachers working with children ages birth to five.

WAGE$ aims to improve child care quality by reducing turnover and encouraging the continued education of early childhood teachers (including center staff and family child care providers).

The Children's Forum is the licensee of the Child Care WAGE$^® program in Florida.

How to Apply

Are you eligible?

To be eligible for at least one six-month supplement payment during the fiscal year, applicants must meet the following statewide criteria (counties may have additional requirements):

• Work in a county that funds the Child Care WAGE$^® FLORIDA Project
• Work in a licensed or licensed exempt early care and education program (center or family child care home)
• Earn less than $17.50 per hour as a child care practitioner (teacher or assistant)
• Have one of the education levels listed below (from a regionally accredited college)
• Work at least six months in the same eligible early care and education program
• Be employed at this same program at the time of employment confirmation

The application

Please visit the Child Care WAGE$^® FLORIDA page and download the most current application.

WAGE$^® links

Child Care WAGE$^® FLORIDA official website
Information about participating Florida counties, frequently asked questions, and applications.

North Carolina's WAGE$^® Project page
North Carolina's Child Care Services Association (CCSA) created the WAGE$^® project in 1994 to address the issues of low compensation and high turnover in the early childhood workforce.