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Teacher and Director TRAC Project Policies
(Training, Retention, And Compensation)


Program Goals:

The goal of Teacher TRAC is to increase the number of professionally trained early care and education workers in Travis County.

The goal of Director TRAC is to improve the qualifications of Travis County child care directors, permitting directors to meet Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Minimum Standards and Texas Rising Star Director Standards through college credit coursework.

Program Funding:

The City of Austin, Travis County, and Workforce Solutions Child Care Services (CCS) provide funding for the Teacher TRAC program with in-kind support from the Austin Community College District. The program eligibility requirements are established by the funding sources with input from the Teacher TRAC Advisory Committee. Other funders for the program are continually sought by the Child Development Department.

 

Program Eligibility for Teacher TRAC:

City and County Criteria:

Early care and education employees working and/or living in Austin and/or Travis County who have at least 3 months experience working in a child care setting directly with young children and who have a family income below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible for Teacher TRAC services funded by the City of Austin or Travis County.

Priority for Enrollment:

To be eligible for first priority, students must be:

  • Child care professionals working full-time (30 hours per week or more) who live and/or work fulltime in the City of Austin or Travis County with a family income below 200% of the FPL.

Students who meet the eligibility for first priority will then be enrolled based on the following list of priorities:

  • Continuing Teacher TRAC participants have priority over new students. Current students will be grandfathered related to these new priorities.
  • Teachers who work in a child care center working with a mentor that is a part of the QC3 project;
  • Teachers who work at a center that is a part of the Texas or Austin Rising Star System;
  • Teachers who work in a child care center enrolled in other Travis County or City of Austin funded projects;
  • Teachers who work in a child care center in Austin or Travis County.
  • Teachers who work part-time (29 hours or less per week) in the City of Austin or Travis County with a family income below 200% of the FPL will be enrolled in the same priority order as listed above for full-time teachers, if funding is available.

Workforce Solutions Child Care Services (CCS) Criteria:

Early care and education employees who work for Workforce Solutions CCS centers or family day homes or for QC3 Mentor Centers are eligible. Income eligibility requirements do not apply to students funded by Workforce Solutions CCS.

Priority enrollments for Workforce Solutions CCS:

First priority goes to students working for QC3 Mentor Centers Workforce Solutions and CCS Texas Rising Star Providers. Special initiatives may identify other priority enrollments.

Program Eligibility for Director TRAC

City and County Criteria:

Child care center directors working in or living in Austin and/or Travis County and who have at least 3 months experience as a director or assistant director are eligible for Director TRAC services. Director TRAC participants must meet the same income eligibility as Teacher TRAC participants. Client eligibility is documented on the Partnership Contract.

Priority for Enrollment:

To be eligible for first priority, students must be:

  • Child care directors or assistant directors working full-time (30 hours per week or more) who live and/or work fulltime in the City of Austin or Travis County with a family income below 200% of the FPL.

Directors and assistant directors who meet the eligibility for first priority will then be enrolled based on the following list of priorities:

  1. Continuing Teacher TRAC participants have priority over new students. Current students will be grandfathered related to these new priorities.
  2. Directors and assistant directors who work in a child care center working with a mentor through the QC3 project.
  3. Directors and assistant directors who work in a child care center participating in the Texas or Austin Rising Star system.
  4. Directors and assistant directors who work in a child care center enrolled in other Travis County or City of Austin funded project.
  5. Directors and assistant directors who work in a child care center in Austin or Travis County.

Directors and assistant directors who are working part-time (29 hours or less per week) who meet income eligibility will be enrolled in the same priority levels as listed above for full-time directors and assistant directors, if funding is available.

Program Policies:

Grade of “C” or Better:

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in the course(s) they are enrolled in to continue to receive funding.

Grade of “D” or “F”

Students who earn a grade of “D” or “F” will not be eligible for continued funding until they demonstrate success in their next class. The student can take the course over in the next semester if it is available. However, the student will need to pay for the course. Teacher TRAC will not pay for a second attempt for the same course. If that same course is not available, the student may take a different course, but he or she will need to pay for the course first. If the student successfully completes the alternative course, Teacher TRAC may reimburse the student, if funding is available.

Grade of Incomplete

Students who have an incomplete in a course will not be eligible for continued funding until they complete the course. If a student wants to enroll in another course the next semester while completing their incomplete, the student will need to pay for the new course. If the student successfully completes the additional course, Teacher TRAC may reimburse the student, if funding is available.


Withdrawal from a Course

If a student withdraws from a class after the deadline for full reimbursement, Teacher TRAC will not pay for a second attempt at this class. The student must pay for the course; it will not qualify for a reimbursement.

For the next different class taken, the student must first pay for the course and successfully complete it to qualify for a reimbursement from Teacher TRAC. Teacher TRAC may reimburse for this class, if funding is available.

Students may submit a waiver request to the Teacher TRAC Advisory Committee if there are extenuating circumstances.

Third Time Course Enrollment

Students enrolling in a course for the third time must pay an additional fee of $60 per credit hour per the ACC’s policies for the “Rule of three”. Teacher TRAC will not pay for this additional fee.

Out-of-State Tuition Costs

Teacher TRAC will not pay for Out-of-State Tuition costs.

Leaving Center before Required One Year After Finishing Teacher TRAC

If a student leaves their workplace prior to one year after finishing their Teacher TRAC funded courses, the student will not be eligible for continued Teacher TRAC funding for one year.

Students may submit a waiver request to the Teacher TRAC Advisory Committee if there are extenuating circumstances.

Program Components:

Teacher TRAC commits to provide:

The student commits to:

  • Successfully complete all course work with a grade of “C” or better
  • Remain at the student’s child care center for at least one year after completing Teacher TRAC funded courses
  • Meet regularly with the Teacher TRAC coordinator as needed.

The sponsoring child care center commits to:

  • Bonuses: $25 for the successful completion of the first course or a salary increase of 1-2% of his/her current wage; $50 for every 12 credit hours successfully completed or a salary increase of 2-4% of his/her current wage.

Last update: 2/21/2013