Quality Matters Stipend Program

FY 23-24 Stipend Program is now CLOSED. Thank you to those of you who applied!

Acknowledgment

QUALITY MATTERS extends our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated partners who have played a pivotal role in bringing our stipend program for early educators.

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Enlighten Group
Quality Counts California
First 5 California
California Department of Social Services
Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles

Program Objectives

The purpose of the Quality Matters Stipend Program is to promote continuous quality improvement in the field of early learning and care (ELC), by providing accessible career pathways and professional growth opportunities to those who work with young children, prenatal to five years old. This includes those who work in Center-Based Programs, Family Child Care Homes, and license-exempt and informal care settings. The stipend program serves to incentivize, recruit, and retain professionals in the field of early learning and care and assist them in pursuing their career goals, including expanding their knowledge base, and/or attainment of a Child Development permit, degree, or credential.

Eligibility

Currently, the following groups of professionals are eligible to participate in the Quality Matters Stipend Program:

Early childhood educators: work in center-based program or home-based childcare settings. The individual educator or employer must enroll annually in the Quality Matters network to be eligible for the Quality Matters Stipend Program.
Family support specialists/parent educators/community workers/home visitors: work at FIRST 5 Family Resource Centers connecting families to resources that promote optimal child development, facilitate access to childcare, health and social services, and build strong communities. Home visitors deliver support and services to families with young children in their home environment, focusing on the healthy development and well-being of young children and their families by providing them with information, resources, and support.

How to Apply

QMSP uses the California Early Childhood Education (ECE) Workforce Registry as its primary database to record and track participants’ eligibility for stipends.

Requirements:

Create an Account in the ECE Workforce Registry

Submit a Stipend Request through the Stipends & Pathways Portal (not launched)

didn't get a chance to enroll this year? join the waitlist!

Stipend Options

Participants must choose and complete one of the two options below:

College Coursework Option = $600 stipend
Training Option= $400 stipend

If you are staff at a Family Resource Center, you are eligible to apply for the Training Option only.

Stipend amount may raise or lower based on available funds and the number of eligible applicants. Stipends must be declared as income subject to income tax. A 1099 form with the stipend amount will be mailed to any participant who received a stipend of $600 or more.

Training Stipend

In order to earn a Training Stipend, individuals must:

Complete a minimum of 21 hours of approved professional development during the program year, July 2023 – June 2024 from a FIRST 5 pre-approved list.
If an individual would like to request stipend hours for an alternative training, they must submit a Training Approval Request Form, to be developed in partnership with FIRST 5 staff.

College Coursework Stipend

In order to earn a College Coursework Stipend, individuals must:

Complete a minimum of 3 semester units (4 quarter units) of college coursework, earning a grade of “C” or better, during the program year July 2023-June 2024.
- Units must count toward a college degree or the obtainment/renew/upgrade of a California Child Development Permit or California Teaching Credential.
- General Education and ESL/Basic Skills courses are accepted.
- Courses must be taken through a nationally accredited college or university to be eligible for a stipend.