Early Childhood Professionals are essential to a child’s growth and development. This page provides valuable resources and support for child care providers and early educators to strengthen early learning programs in Cabarrus County.
Cabarrus Teachers on Call
Child Care Substitute Service
The program recruits, trains, and equips a “job ready” pool of qualified substitute teachers to be partnered with child care centers in Cabarrus County, NC. We help child care centers stay fully staffed and help them fill permanent position within their child care center.
P.U.R.E. Excellence – 336-588-7833.
Child Care WAGE$®
The Child Care WAGE$® 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$
>> Visit the Early Years website for more information about this program
Conscious Discipline
The methodology of Conscious Discipline is based in scientific and developmental research. It is recognized by the SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). This highly effective approach is proven to increase self-regulation, sense of safety, connection, empathy, and intrinsic motivation in both children and adults. Our plan is train providers across the county, but also intended to help achieve the necessary changes in 3-4 centers while ensuring sustainability and fidelity.
Please contact P.U.R.E. Excellence at 336-588-7833 or register online at CD Trainings (pureexcellenceedu.org).
Early Education Liaison Program
Cabarrus Partnership for Children (‘Partnership’) funds the Early Education Liaison Program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC). The program focuses on working with local early educators and child care centers to enroll and assist them in completing their education.
In addition to serving as liaisons between the community college and local early educators, the program offers academic support, resources, referrals for tutoring, and scholarships for those who don’t qualify for financial aid or incentives when they complete a semester with a B or higher.
By increasing the level of education that our local early educators receive, we increase the availability of quality early child care for Cabarrus County families.
Program Spotlight
Waynett Taylor, previous Program Chair of the Early Education Program at RCCC, spoke with Nida Kanwal about the support she received from our Early Education Liaison program and how it allowed her to take more classes as she pursued a career in early childhood education.
Grants for Child Care Programs
The Cabarrus County Partnership for Children wishes to grant funds to stabilize the early childhood providers and reverse the trend of diminishing capacity in child care over the next two years, and help with the transition of QRIS reform process for licensing of regulated child care.
Grant applications will be accepted from Cabarrus Child Care Providers in the coming months.
Increase Preschool Slots for CCS
Provides additional slots for preschool for the 2025-2026 school year.
Please contact the Mary Frances Wall Center at 704-260-6790 for more information.
Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus
Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus provides education-based salary supplements to low-paid teachers working full-time in infant-toddler classrooms in North Carolina. The program is designed to better compensate and retain well-educated teachers working with our youngest children. Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus is funded by the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE).
To be eligible for Infant-Toddler Educator AWARD$® Plus, applicants must:
- Work at least 35 hours per week with infants, birth to age two (teachers with children ages 3+ in the classroom do not qualify)
- Earn at or below $18 per hour. Bonuses from the employer will be included in calculations to determine hourly rate
- Work in a licensed child care program with at least three stars (family childcare providers do not qualify)
- Have an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education or higher
For more information, download the AWARD$ application and fact sheet below.
TEACH Early Childhood® North Carolina
TEACH Early Childhood® North Carolina offers scholarship opportunities for Early Care and Education Community Specialists who want to take coursework leading to an associate, bachelor’s degree or graduate coursework in early childhood education. Early childhood education degree completion is not required. These scholarships are competitive and will be awarded to individuals who clearly demonstrate their commitment to early care and education. Scholarship applications are now being accepted!
Eligible positions include:
- Early Childhood Workforce Coaches and Mentors
- Head Start Home Visitors
- Home Visitors, including Parents as Teachers
- Technical Assistant Specialists
- Professional Development Specialists
- Community College Early Childhood Instructors
- Early Intervention Specialists
- Child Care Health Consultants
- Health Department (Nurse Educators)
- Child Care Program Nutritionists
- Division of Child Development and Early Education (Licensing Consultants)
TEACH Early Childhood® North Carolina can help most non-teaching professionals working in North Carolina’s early care and education system increase their education in early childhood focused or relevant coursework, receive financial support to help offset tuition, books and other costs and prepare for Early Educator Certification.
No financial obligation for coursework from employer!
Technical Assistance Coaching Program
The Technical Assistance (TA) Coaching Program provides directors and teachers with individualized and group support to enhance the quality of early childhood education across Cabarrus County. TA Coaches utilize evidence-based practices to strengthen the development of children ages birth to five and ultimately, the quality of early childhood programs.