Initiative

Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus

Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus is an education-based salary supplement program for teachers and family child care providers working at least 30 hours per week with children birth through age two in licensed settings. The program provides financial awards after six-month periods completed in the same child care program, thus increasing the retention of participants and stability for children in the years when it is most needed. It rewards attained education and encourages additional coursework, supporting the professional development of the infant-toddler workforce. AWARD$ Plus provides compensation that helps build quality.

Home Pathways Action Map Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus

Fast Facts

Relevant Actions Action 3.12
State or Local?

State
Counties

All Counties
Lead Agency

Child Care Services Association
Type of Agency

Nonprofit
Racial Equity Lens
  • AWARD$ Plus intentionally seeks to have a racially diverse advisory committee, which helps to guide the program’s policies and practices. The team that administers AWARD$ Plus is also racially diverse.
  • AWARD$ Plus consistently reports on the percentage of participants served who are people of color/Latinx and ensures that recruitment efforts address these and all communities.
Community Voice
  • AWARD$ intentionally includes workforce representation on its advisory committee, including current and/or past recipients.
Impact
  • Reduced turnover of infant-toddler educators 
  • Increased education of infant-toddler educators
  • Increased compensation for infant-toddler educators 
  • Reduced financial stress for participating early educators, enabling a better focus on the young children they serve
Next Steps
  • AWARD$ Plus expanded eligibility in FY23 to include more eligible education levels, more eligible sites and a higher income cap.
Primary Partners
  • Division of Child Development and Early Education
  • Education and Compensation Advisory Committee members
Primary Funders
  • Division of Child Development and Early Education
Contact

Allison Miller

Active Counties