Early Learning Program Grants and Scholarships

NEWS: TWC Approves Additional $1 Billion in Direct Support for Texas Child Care Industry

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has approved an additional $1 billion in direct support for the Texas child care industry, increasing available funds for the 2022 Child Care Relief Fund to a total of $3.4 billion. Eligible child care providers may use these funds in a variety of ways to support their programs’ operating costs.

Examples include supporting staff recruitment and retention by enhancing the benefits they provide to their employees, such as paid time off and free or low-cost child care for their employees’ children. Other employee benefits could include signing bonuses, retention bonuses, wage stipends, or hazard pay. Use TWC’s “How To Prepare To Apply Guide” to work through the easy steps needed to prepare and apply for funding.

Eligible child care providers will receive an invitation to apply for funding from TWC beginning in March. Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2022. For more information, to check eligibility or receive assistance with your application, please visit https://www.childcare.texas.gov/ or email CCReliefFunds@Trelliscompany.org.

Grants and Scholarships

Early Learning Programs that have current Provider Agreements and operate within the our 14-county region are eligible to participate in grant and scholarship opportunities. Grants and scholarships will be awarded to Texas Rising Star (TRS) providers first and to those providers who have submitted TRS interest forms. Funding for grants and scholarships are made available by Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas. Please check this website often, as grant and scholarship opportunities become available frequently.

Scholarship Opportunities

Child Development Associate Training Scholarship

Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas is pleased to offer Child Development Associate (CDA) training to Early Learning Programs that are Texas Rising Star (TRS) certified (or are in the process of becoming TRS certified), have agreements with Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas and whose location is within the North Central Texas Workforce Development board area.

Classes are being offered virtually in partnership with Camp Fire First Texas for Summer 2022. This opportunity is limited to 5 applications per facility. This scholarship covers 100 % of the cost of the class and the Assessment Fee required by the National CDA Council.

Classes will meet from 6:30pm - 9:30pm for 20 weeks on the following dates:

• June 21, 28 July 12, 19, 26

• August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

• September 6, 13, 20, 27

• October 4, 11, 18, 25

• November 1, 8

The deadline for application submission is 5:00pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Selected participants will be notified no later than Friday, June 10, 2022. Zoom links will be sent from Camp Fire First Texas once registration is complete.

A Child Development Associate is an individual who has successfully completed the CDA assessment process and has been awarded the CDA credential. According to the National Council for Professional Recognition, Child Development Associates are childcare professionals that are able to meet the specific needs of children and work with parents and other adults to nurture children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework. Earning the CDA credential has many advantages, including motivating caregivers toward continuing education and providing a platform for professional and career opportunities. Many view the CDA credential as an instrument for career advancement in the early childhood care and education profession, as it has national recognition.