Scholars For Excellence in Child Care AA/AAS/AS
Providing Educational Opportunities for Child Care Professionals
The Scholars for Excellence in Child Care (SECC) program ensures that eligible child care professionals in the state of Oklahoma have an opportunity to attend a community college to further their education while earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, Certificate of Mastery, Director’s Certificate of Completion, and/or an associate degree in child development or early childhood education.
At Rose State College, the scholarship will provide 90% of tuition and fees and 100% of required books for eligible scholars for the following:
- Child development courses leading toward a CDA credential
- Certificate of Mastery
- School-Age Certificate of Completion (school-age teachers and directors only)
- Director’s Certificate of Completion
- Associate of Arts in Family Services and Child Development
In addition, the Scholars program also offers the following scholarships:
- Early Education: Pathway to Your National Credential (a comprehensive CDA or CCP curriculum) coursework taken through technology centers leading toward the national CDA credential.
- CDA/CCP Direct Assessment Application.
Eligibility Requirements
Tuition Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
The Facility
- Must be a DHS-licensed child care facility. The facility must also be a one-star or higher status with Child Care Services QRIS. Only facilities on permit due to an ownership change are permitted.
- If the military or tribe licenses the facility, it must be a two-star or higher with Child Care Services QRIS. Please contact the scholarship office for clarification of possible eligibility.
CoM Scholar
- Work at least 30 hours per week.
- A teacher, assistant teacher, or family child care assistant must work with children.
- Family Child Care Providers must be paid to care for children other than their own.
- Assistant Director/Director can have a combination of administrative duties and caring for children.
- *If the scholar continues to receive pay during the summer with the facility not open to care for children, the scholar can continue to take courses. If the scholar is not paid and the facility is closed, they will be unable to take classes during the summer semester.
- Must be at least 17 years old and have a high school diploma or high school equivalency (HSE) certificate. If the applicant does not have a high school diploma or HSE certificate their high school class must have graduated.
- Once approved for the scholarship, the scholar must be enrolled in a degree program focused on child development or early childhood education. Scholars are not eligible to enroll at any other career technology center, community college, or university while receiving a scholarship.
AA/AAS/AS Scholar
- Be employed at an eligible child care facility for at least three months before beginning coursework.
- Within the three-month total, a provider may have a time of non-employment not exceeding 30 calendar days; however, the combined working total must equal three months or longer.
- If it is not three consecutive months of employment with the same facility, written verification confirming previous employment in a child care facility or family child care home must be provided.
- The scholar coordinator must verify the employment history and complete the Employment Verification Form, which should be submitted with the application.
- Work at least 30 hours per week.
- A teacher, assistant teacher, or family child care assistant must work with children.
- Family Child Care Providers must be paid to care for children other than their own.
- Assistant Director/Director can have a combination of administrative duties and caring for children.
- Must be at least 18 years old and/or have a high school diploma/GED.
- Once approved for the scholarship, be enrolled in a child development or early childhood education program of study.
Verification of Hours
- Directors, Assistant Directors, Teachers, and Assistant Teachers must provide a current check stub indicating the hours worked per week, name of the applicant, and the facility name. (If the facility name is not listed, submit a letter from the Director on letterhead as well as a check stub.).
- Family child care providers must complete the Verification of Hours form.
- If a check stub does not reflect a regular work week (30-40 hours) because of absence from the job, written verification from the director regarding the regular weekly scheduled hours should also be submitted.
Head Start
- Head Start employees are eligible for the Scholarship.
Employment at Multiple Centers
- If a recipient works in more than one center (all of which are owned by the same person or organization), they must work a total of 30 hours per week. Providers must work in a facility participating in the state QRIS system with a rating of one star or higher.
Scholars Program Benefits
- Scholars program scholarships
- Support services and technical assistance from Scholars program coordinator
- Academic and career advisement
- Networking with other child care professionals
- Education stipend of $800 for the Certificate of Mastery, $1,000 for the Director’s Certificate of Completion, and $1,500 for the Associate of Arts in FSCD–Child Development