Inclusive Child Care

Training and coaching for early childhood educators.

The Inclusive Child Care program consists of an Early Childhood Support Team (ECST), or contracted Education Specialist, who makes periodic visits to child care providers (including centers, family child care homes, public preschools, NC Pre-Kindergarten classrooms, and half-day programs, as funding allows) to provide consultation/coaching, training, and technical assistance focusing on establishing nurturing classroom environments and relationships compatible with the promotion and prevention levels of the Center for Social Emotional Foundations of the Early Learning (CSEFEL) Pyramid Model and the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS).

The Education Specialist provides referrals for individual children to other community resources and services as needed and may represent the ECST in community collaborations such as the Local Interagency Coordinating Council, the local NC Pre-K Committee, and other community meetings.

This activity may provide small non-cash grants to enhance training pertaining to the Pyramid Model, early skill development and other topics needed in the community.

For more information about this program, contact Waynett Taylor with P.U.R.E. Excellence at 336-588-7833.

Cabarrus Partnership for Children funds the Smart Start Inclusive Child Care program at P.U.R.E. Excellence.

WAGE$® Program

The Child Care WAGE$® Program provides education-based salary supplements to low-paid teachers, directors and family child care educators working with children ages birth to five years old. The program was created in response to research-based evidence that shows that the quality of care children receive is lowered by high turnover rates and inadequate teacher education.

Lack of resources and an effort to maintain affordability for parents often make it difficult for individual child care programs to reward or encourage teacher education through salaries. As a result, many teachers leave the field or never even consider the profession an option. WAGE$ is designed to provide preschool children more stable relationships with better-educated teachers by rewarding teacher education and continuity of care.

To be eligible for WAGE$, applicants must:

• Work in a county that uses Smart Start funds to support the Child Care WAGE$® Program
• Work in a licensed child care program (center, home or public school site)
• Earn below the income cap selected by the funding partnership
• Have an education level listed on the WAGE$ scale (from a regionally accredited school)
• Work at least six months in the same child care program
• Be employed at this same child care program when funding is available and when a final employment confirmation has been completed

Next steps

>> See if you are eligible for WAGE$

>> Apply for WAGE$

>> Visit the Child Care Services Association website for more information about this program.