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Program Funding:
This program is funded by the City of Austin, Travis County, and Workforce Child Care Solutions. 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:
Child care teachers who work and/or live in Austin and/or Travis County and who have at least three months experience working in a child care setting directly with young children are eligible for Teacher TRAC funding.
Enrollment Priorities:
First Priority
- Applicants must be child care professionals working full-time (30 hours per week or more).
- Applicants must live and/or work full time in the City of Austin or Travis County.
- Applicants who are funded by the City of Austin or Travis County must earn a family income below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This requirement does not apply to applicants who work in centers funded by Workforce Child Care Solutions. Federal Poverty Guidelines are updated on an annual basis.
Click here for the HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines table.
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Applicants who meet eligibility for first priority based on preceding three criteria will then be enrolled based on the following secondary priorities:
- Continuing Teacher TRAC participants.
- Teachers who work in child care centers enrolled in the Texas or Austin Rising Star System and who are working with a mentor.
- Teachers who work in child care centers enrolled in other Travis County or City of Austin funded projects.
- Teachers who work in licensed child care facilities or registered family homes in Austin or Travis County.
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Students who do not meet first priority eligibility will occur for the same groups listed under Program Eligibility based on the following order:
- Child care professionals who live and/or work in the City of Austin or Travis County and have income above 200 percent of poverty up to the Travis County median income.
- Teachers who work part-time (less than 30 hours per week) and meet other eligibility criteria.
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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 that course. Students may elect to pay to retake the course in the following semester (or when it is next available). Upon successful completion of the course with a grade “C” or better, students can submit paperwork requesting reimbursement. If funding is available, Teacher TRAC may reimburse students’ tuition.
Withdrawal from a Course
If a student withdraws or is withdrawn from a class after the deadline for full reimbursement, Teacher TRAC will not pay for a second attempt at this class. Students must pay when retaking courses they have withdrawn from and these courses do not qualify for reimbursement or bonuses.
If there are extenuating circumstances, students may submit waiver requests to the Teacher TRAC coordinator. The waiver request process requires students to submit a Teacher TRAC application and meet deadline requirements for the semester when the second attempt is taken. Students must pay for the course and successfully complete it with a grade “C” or better to request reimbursement. If funding is available, Teacher TRAC may reimburse students’ tuition.
Before you withdraw from a course, contact the Teacher TRAC coordinator to discuss Teacher TRAC withdrawal policies. In addition, ACC has a drop policy so check with an ACC advisor or counselor at any campus before dropping a course.
Third Time Course Enrollment
Students enrolling in the same course for the third time must pay an additional fee of $60 per credit hour per Austin Community College’s policies for the “Rule of Three”. Teacher TRAC will not pay for these additional fees.
Out-of-State Tuition Costs
Teacher TRAC will not pay for Out-of-State tuition costs.
ACCmail
All ACC faculty and staff are instructed to communicate with students using their ACCmail account. Actively enrolled students are required to use their ACCmail account while communicating with ACC instructors and ACC staff. ACC will send important information to students at this account. Also, ACC will notify students of any college related emergencies using this account.
It is your responsibility to check your ACCmail on a regular basis since Teacher TRAC faculty and staff will email information about application holds, scholarships, textbooks, and orientations. If you don't wish to use the ACCmail web client to read your email, you can forward your ACCmail messages to another email address at your own risk.
Program Components:
Teacher TRAC commits to provide:
- Tuition for one course per semester (based on funding availability). Courses must be in students’ degree plan. Required developmental courses are included.
- Books for classes approved by Teacher TRAC. Books are loaned to students for use during the semester and must be returned in usable condition when the semester ends. Books for CDA courses are used multiple semesters and not returned to Teacher TRAC.
- Support and life skills coaching through the Teacher TRAC coordinator and ACC support services.
- Bonuses $75 for successful completion of the first course; $100 for every 12 credit hours paid by Teacher TRAC and successfully completed with a grade “C” or better.
- Scholarships for the $325 CDA assessment fee.
The student commits to:
- Successfully complete all course work with a grade of “C” or better.
- Maintain a 2.0 grade-point average in required coursework listed on your degree plan
- Remain at your child care center for at least one year after completing the Teacher TRAC project
- Meet with the Teacher TRAC coordinator, if needed.
The sponsoring child care center commits to:
- Bonuses ($25 for successful completion of the first course or a salary increase of 1-2 percent of his/her current wage; $50 for every 12 credit hours successfully completed or a salary increase of 2-4 percent of his/her current wage.)
Please click here to go to Teacher Trac forms |
