Note: The WAGE$ Program Is Currently Available Only in Select Counties in Our Service Area

 
Child Care WAGE$® KANSAS provides education-based salary supplements to teachers and family child care providers working with children between the ages of 0-5 who meet salary guidelines. The project is designed to provide young children more stable relationships with better educated teachers by rewarding teacher education and continuity of care.

What are the goals of this project?
  • To improve the quality of early childhood care and education in child care centers and family child care homes.
  • To decrease the turnover rate of child care providers.
  • To increase compensation of early childhood educators without increasing costs to parents.
  • To increase the educational level of staff providing child care.
  • To maintain marketplace competition for better salaries.
  • To integrate and build upon other education and compensation initiatives.
Salary supplements are awarded based on the level of education attained and after verification of employment following a six month commitment period. Child care teachers or family child care providers meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply for a salary supplement.

Applicant must:
  • Work a minimum of 10 hours per week with children ages 0-5 in a licensed child care program.
  • Make a wage of less than $14.45 per hour.
  • Must have some formal child care credential or education beyond high school.
  • Must work in an eligible or participating county.

Child Care WAGE$® KANSAS is either funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation or as a collaborative effort between KACCRRA and your local Smart Start Partnership, which is awarded discretionary grant funding through the Kansas Children's Cabinet.

For more information please contact:
Kris Nicholson, Child Care WAGE$® KANSAS Project Director
KACCRRA
toll free 877-678-2548
kris@kaccrra.org