T.E.A.C.H. Talk: September 2022

You are receiving this email because you are a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship recipient or sponsor.

September 2022

Important Notes, Deadlines and Notifications

Please note, the deadline for Fall Direct Billing Authorization is Oct. 1, 2022, including courses that begin after Oct. 1. Register and submit your enrollment before that date.
Notify your counselor if you have dropped a course. Keep in mind that schools have deadlines for dropping courses. Depending on when in the semester you drop a course, partial or full tuition costs may be still be charged. School deadlines may be found on their websites.

Program Expansion: Key Reminders

As you’ve heard, the exciting, sweeping changes for T.E.A.C.H. and REWARD are starting this summer, thanks to significant funding increases. The changes are bringing enhanced supports for Wisconsin’s early childhood educators and your educational and professional journeys over the next two years.

For the T.E.A.C.H. program, you were sent a letter via email outlining the changes to your active contract, per the expansion. As a reminder, several reimbursements, stipends, and bonuses went into effect with the fall 2022 semester, making qualified educational pathways nearly free for early childhood educators pursuing credit-based education:

T.E.A.C.H. will now cover 90% of book costs.
Release Time will be reimbursed at the rate of $15/hour.
T.E.A.C.H. will cover 100% of the Wisconsin Registry credential fee.
T.E.A.C.H. will pay a one-time technology stipend to recipients.
T.E.A.C.H. will pay a one-time $500 stipend to sponsoring centers and family child care programs.
T.E.A.C.H. bonuses will increase by $100, with $25 paid at the successful completion of each semester.

Recipients and centers each will continue to be responsible for only 5% of tuition.

Details, including a series of frequently asked questions and key information for each program, are available on the special expansion webpage on WECA’s website.

Advancing Equity in Wisconsin’s Early Education Workforce

Early childhood educators, help advance a diverse and representative early childhood workforce in Wisconsin at all levels by participating in an equity study. It seeks to elevate the voices and lived experiences of early educators who identify as BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color. Learn more about the study and how to participate here or by contacting Toshiba Adams, Ph.D./Leader Researcher at [email protected]. Para más información o para participar en este estudio, comuníquese con Olga Neira en [email protected].

Power of Advocacy

WECA has long been a leader in advocacy efforts supporting the early childhood workforce and early care and education in Wisconsin. Our newest step this year was launching Raising Wisconsin, an initiative supported by a broad multi-sector coalition of partners working to advance accessible, affordable child care, a well-compensated early childhood workforce, and optimal child health and well-being.

Want to stay informed and engaged in WECA and Raising Wisconsin’s efforts? Sign up for our Advocacy Digest and Alerts to receive timely and relevant updates, calls to action, research articles, and more. Note, the e-newsletter currently is available in English.

Registration is open for the 2022 WECA Annual Conference! The event returns in a virtual format Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 with a range of informative and engaging keynotes, breakouts, and interactive sessions through the theme, “Cultivating Connections.” Don’t miss out on the conference, an incredible learning and professional development opportunity. All registrants will receive two FREE BOOKS written by our keynote speakers. Register before Sept. 9 to ensure you receive them before the conference!

We cannot wait to see you this fall! See the event website for additional conference details, including the event schedule. More information on sessions that will be interpreted and offered in Spanish will be available soon. Check back for updates!

Your Voice Matters

Please share your T.E.A.C.H. success stories with us. How did the education you received on a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship impact you, your family, and the children you serve? By giving us your story, we, in turn, share your story and its impact with potential T.E.A.C.H. recipients, funders and policymakers.

There’s only one person who can tell your story, and that’s you! Please email your story to Cassie at [email protected].