We are pleased to share the 2023 T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ annual report with you. The report highlights the work of both programs in fiscal year 2023. We are very proud of the outcomes our program recipients have helped the programs produce. Please reach out with questions or for more information.

New! Counselor Chat Sessions

Join us for a monthly virtual chat session with T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ counselors! This live chat will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:00-2:00pm. Feel free to come and go as you please.

Our next counselor chat will be held on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023 from 1:00-2:00pm.

Here is the Zoom information to join:

o  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84500736957

o  Meeting ID: 845 0073 6957

This is an opportunity for you to meet your counselor, ask questions, and learn more about T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$.

o  Turn in Fall Form B’s, B/C’s, and C’s with release hours turned in by end of semester

o Remember to send your fall grade reports to your counselor as you receive them

o  Inform your T.E.A.C.H. counselor of your spring course plans ASAP!

The 2023 Iowa Child Care Workforce Study has been published by Iowa AEYC and i2d2. This study was created to generate a deeper understanding of who Iowa’s child care workforce is and the challenges they are facing.

To read more about the study and solutions to these key findings, you can view the study by clicking the link: 2023 Iowa Child Care Workforce Study 

Take a look at our list of T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ videos that share information about program requirements, eligibility, and how to apply! You can find the list of videos on YouTube.

Some of our newest videos include:

o How Does Release Time Work with T.E.A.C.H.?

o  Why Should My Program Sponsor My T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship?

o  What is the Difference Between Official and Unofficial Transcripts?

Are you Interested in Moving up the WAGE$ Supplement Scale?

If you need Early Childhood Education (ECE) college credits to move up the WAGE$ supplement scale or to become eligible for WAGE$, you could do so with the help of our T.E.A.C.H. scholarship program. T.E.A.C.H. can help pay for a portion of books and tuition towards Early Childhood degrees, credentials, endorsements, and credits needed for WAGE$. View program information for T.E.A.C.H. here on our website or reach out to a T.E.A.C.H. staff member at teach@iowaaeyc.org. Deadline to apply for a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship starting Summer 2024 is April 30^th 2024.  

*If you are a WAGE$ participant and unsure how many college credits you need to move up the scale, please reach out to your WAGE$ counselor or wages@iowaaeyc.org

Mark your calendars for our upcoming T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ 101s. This is an opportunity to learn about program information and eligibility requirements. Click on the i-PoWeR links below for registration.

December 12, 2023 at 1:00 pm

February 13, 2024 at 6:00 pm

May 14, 2024 at 1:00 pm

July 9, 2024 at 6:00 pm

Please consider sharing this information with someone you know!

The Department of Education is simplifying FAFSA. The new, simplified FAFSA won't be available until December, later than the usual October 1st date.

For the 2024-25 school year, FAFSA will be reduced to just 36 questions from 108, include detailed financial information, and be easier to import income data from tax records.

• Both students and parents must create a Student Aid Account to get an FSA ID before completing the form. An FSA ID is an account username and password combination.
• Allow at least three days because in the new process, the Social Security Administration will require verification of FSA IDs before tax information can be accessed. Students and parents must log in to FAFSA separately to complete each of their respective sections.
• If parents are divorced or separated, the parent who provided the most financial support in the last calendar year will now complete the FAFSA. 
• The number of students a family has enrolled in college will no longer factor into the FAFSA calculation. 
• The net worth of family farms and small businesses will now be required as part of the application. 

Are you wondering about the monthly Data Collection Form that IHHS has requested child care program to fill out? Click here to view a short video on how to complete your form.

The monthly data collection form is now available for November for you to update your child care program’s desired capacity and vacancies information.

The Ambassador program was started to create a statewide network of professionals who represent T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Iowa and Child Care WAGE$® Iowa  explaining the benefits of these programs and providing support in their own communities in order to maximize the impact of T.E.A.C.H. scholarships and WAGE$ participation throughout the state of Iowa. If you have previously partaken or currently partake in either T.E.A.C.H. or WAGE$, and remain in the Early Childhood field, please consider being an Ambassador.    

The benefits of being an Ambassador are many. You will have the opportunity to network and share ideas with other Early Childhood professionals from across the state. We will give you additional professional tools, advocacy training, and news on what is happening in the Early Childhood field. You will also gain valuable leadership opportunities.

To find out more please contact Jeannine Laughlin at jlaughlin@iowaaeyc.org or Tierney Sothman at tsothman@iowaaeyc.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

Iowa Health and Human Services (IHHS) launched a strategy to help child care providers improve their business. The strategy pairs business coaching through the Child Care Collaborative of Iowa and the use of child care management system (CCMS) software through either Playground or brightwheel. Check out this video on how this new strategy has improved child care provider’s business.

IHHS video

Iowa AEYC is active on social media!

Iowa AEYC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IowaAEYC/

Iowa AEYC Twitter: https://twitter.com/iowaaeyc?lang=en

6200 Aurora Avenue, Suite 605E

Urbandale, Iowa 50322 

(515) 331-8000