INCENTIVE$ Florida awards annual stipends of up to $5,000 to early learning educators, family child care home providers, and directors, for their higher education achievements and commitment to their programs. This quality initiative in conjunction with the TEACH Early Childhood® Scholarship Program, can help increase the education, compensation, and stability of early learning workforces, both locally and statewide.
The INCENTIVE$ Scale award levels range from $450 to $5,000 for full-time employees. These awards are based upon the participant’s education level and reflect the schedule worked during a six-month commitment period (i.e., staff working part-time in the classroom receive prorated awards). Click here to view the INCENTIVE$ Scale.
Eligible early learning educators must create and use a Children’s Forum personal portal account to access the INCENTIVE$ online application. Applications must include:
- Proof of employment
- Formal education documents (ex. unofficial transcripts)
- Paystub or proof of your hourly wage
- Family child care educators must complete a Monthly Income Worksheet
Applicants must create portal account using their personal email address. Please follow steps below:
- Visit https://login.thechildrensforum.com/ and click on the Create Account button
- Enter details as requested on each page (Name, DOB, Demographics, Address, etc.)
- Check your personal email account for a message from registryportal@thechildrensforum.com
- NOTE: Please allow up to 15 minutes to receive this email and check your SPAM folder
- Open the email and click the link. You may also copy/paste this link into your browser
- This link will take you to set your Portal Account password
- Enter your password into both boxes, then click the Reset Password button
- Login with your new password to see your Portal Account Dashboard!
INCENTIVE$ stipends are typically received 45 – 60 days after the participant’s employment is confirmed with their program director. Stipend payments are loaded on Akimbo Prepaid Mastercards that participants can easily access.
If a participant did not work for an extended period during their required six-month commitment period, they must make up missed time before they will be eligible to receive an INCENTIVE$ award. This includes summer breaks, vacations, or parental/medical leave.
*Please Note: All INCENTIVE$ stipend payments are contingent upon funding availability at the time of employment confirmation.
Participants can increase their level on the INCENTIVE$ Scale with formal education. The TEACH Early Childhood® Scholarship Program can help participants attain additional education with little out-of-pocket costs. TEACH offers a variety of scholarship opportunities that include early learning credentials, college credit and certificates, and degrees in early childhood education or related fields.
INCENTIVE$ would not be possible without our funders.
Thank you for supporting your local early learning community!
