CAC and First Things First offer grant for early childhood ed
September 15, 2010Coolidge Examiner
Tom Di Camillo
PINAL COUNTY - Central Arizona College and the First Things First Pinal Regional Council have unveiled a terrific program designed to help students enter the early childhood education field.
The First Things First Pinal Regional Council is providing scholarship opportunities to students interested in becoming an early childhood education professional.
The grant provides full tuition each semester (up to 24 credit hours yearly) and a book stipend toward an associate of applied science degree in early childhood education at CAC.
First Things First (FTF), approved by Arizona voters, works to ensure that the youngest children have access to quality early childhood experiences so they begin school healthy and ready to succeed.
To qualify for a scholarship, students must be interested in obtaining a degree in the early childhood field but may not be presently working in the early childhood environment.
In addition, students must be willing to work in Pinal County upon completion of the degree program.
“Teaching and caring for children is an exciting, rewarding profession,” Michelle Williams, CAC’s preceptor of the program, explained.
Students who complete the A.A.S in early childhood education may earn positions such as:
- Family childcare provider
- In-home childcare specialist
- Preschool teacher
- Head Start teacher or teacher’s aide
- Elementary school teacher’s aide
- Childcare center provider
In CAC’s early childhood education department, instructors work individually with students to meet their needs. Instruction is available in a variety of delivery methods, including:
- On-site classes
- Distance learning using Interactive Television (ITV)
- Self-paced study
- Traditional classroom
- Short-term classes and seminars
- Evening and weekend classes
For more information about the First Things First Scholarships at Central Arizona College, please contact Michelle Williams by phone at 520-494-5022, or by e-mail at michelle.williams7@centralaz.edu.
Tuition funding through the Professional Career Pathway Project is available to those currently working in childcare centers or family childcare homes.
The ADES/Child Care Administration and First Things First Regional Partnership Councils fund this program. For more information, contact Shirley Harter by e-mail at shirley.harter@centralaz.edu or call 520-494-5077.