Step Up to WAGE$ – Application
Step Up to WAGE$ is an education-based wage supplement initiative that pays semi-annual stipends to Birth-5 teaching staff in centers and family homes.ย These stipends are based on the level of education as well as continuous work hours in the same child care program during a six-month certification period.ย AECA will be using our American Rescue Plan Act funding to begin this program.ย While it is a temporary fix (and what we hope will transition into permanent funding), we believe it is necessary to act now with some sort of plan to raise wages and help our programs keep qualified staff.
๐ฃ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐จ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐ชAGE$ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐. ๐ข๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐.
Have application questions? We can help!
Call 1-501-680-1930 or email wages@arkansasearlychildhood.org
Qualificationsย
- You must be a teacher, assistant teacher, floater, director, assistant director, or family child care provider at a licensed child care center or family child care home in Arkansas.
- You must have a CDA or at least 12 credit hours of birth to 5 formal coursework
- You must work at least 10 hours per week with children ages birth โ 5.
- You must earn below the income cap of $23 per hour.
Applicationย
- Download our application or give us a call at 479-287-6236 to request one be mailed or scanned to you. When filling out the application please make sure you complete the entire form. Please note your employer is also responsible for filling out and signing a portion of the application.
Income Verificationย
- Employee: Send a copy of a current paystub (we only need one) that accurately reflects your normal schedule. If you regularly work 40 hours a week, your paystub should reflect that.
- Family Child Care Educator: Submit your Schedule C from the most recent tax year
- Facility owner: Please supply your most recent 1040 tax form, all supporting schedules, and the W-2 form. If you file jointly, the W-2 forms from both parties must be submitted. Additional tax documentation may be requested if necessary.
Transcriptsย
- Participants must submit official transcripts by mail for ALL college coursework completed at a regionally accredited college or university. Official transcripts are generally printed on special school paper for security purposes and may also feature a stamped school seal.โฏCopied or faxed transcripts cannot be accepted. Workshops and training hours are not acceptable documentation.
- Please be sure to include any name your college transcript(s) could be associated with on your application.
Send your completed applications and required documents to:
Step Up to WAGE$ Arkansas
Arkansas Early Childhood Association
P.O. Box 2520
Bentonville, AR 72712
Email: wages@arkansasearlychildhood.org
Phone: 501-680-1930