Early Childhood Education Student Career and Education Program at CA Community Colleges

This program is available to fund specific educational costs at 102 community colleges throughout California. Access to this program is available to eligible students who are pursuing careers in child care/development through the CDTC Campus Coordinator designated at each of the colleges.

Each CDTC member community college works with a local advisory committee to develop plans for the use of CDTC funds. Therefore, the use of CDTC funding can vary from college to college.

CDTC funds are commonly used for the following purposes:

• Reimbursing students for enrollment fees, tuition and/or textbooks;
• Establishing a lending library of textbooks and other resources for use by eligible students;
• Paying the costs (instructor salary and fringe benefits) of providing classes that the college will not fund out of its general budget;
• Paying for tutorial assistance and/or translation services.

Program Eligibility

Students must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible to participate in the CDTC Community College Program:

1. Student must be seeking a new or maintaining a currently held Child Development Permit.
2. At the time of enrollment, the student must be employed by a child care/development program, including licensed family childcare and out-of-school care. Center-based programs must be licensed or eligible for an exemption according to Department of Social Services (DSS) regulations. Employment in a kindergarten classroom is also acceptable.
3. Student employment must directly benefit children and/or families. The employment experience must be acceptable to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for purposes of obtaining a Child Development Permit, even if experience is not required for the permit.
4. Student must work in the state of California.

Note: In-home care providers (nannies) are not eligible. Unlicensed, exempt, home-based child care providers (individuals) are not eligible.

General Priorities for Enrollment

Eligible students will be enrolled according to the following priorities:

1. Employees of all direct-funded CDE/CDD programs including center-based programs and family childcare network programs or center-based programs with satellite family child care providers. This also includes co-located Head Start Programs.
2. Employees of any program, center-based or licensed family child care homes that serve children on a voucher basis for Alternative Payment services.
3. Employees of all other programs including center-based and licensed family child care homes.

Within each priority group listed above, priority will be given to students fulfilling the requirements for an Assistant, Associate Teacher, or Teacher Child Development Permit.

Local Priorities for Enrollment

Each CDTC community college may establish additional priorities. However, the general priorities listed above must be met before local priorities can be implemented.

Local priorities are encouraged to meet local needs within the context of the general priorities. Local priorities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Returning eligible students
• First-come, first-served
• Students enrolled in ECE core courses
• Students enrolled as ECE majors
• Students with no other sources of financial aid
• Single parents
• Re-entry students
• Students from under-represented groups