The Florida Senate

¹402.3017  Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) scholarship program.--

(1)  The Legislature finds that the level of early child care teacher education and training is a key predictor for determining program quality. The Legislature also finds that low wages for child care workers prevent many from obtaining increased training and education and contribute to high turnover rates. The Legislature therefore intends to help fund a program which links teacher training and education to compensation and commitment to the field of early childhood education.

(2)  The Department of Children and Family Services is authorized to contract for the administration of the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) scholarship program, which provides educational scholarships to caregivers and administrators of early childhood programs, family day care homes, and large family child care homes.

(3)  The department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

(4)  For the 2004-2005 fiscal year only, the Agency for Workforce Innovation shall administer this section. This subsection expires July 1, 2005.

History.--s. 15, ch. 2000-253; ss. 55, 79, ch. 2002-402; s. 73, ch. 2003-399; s. 55, ch. 2004-269.

¹Note.--Section 55, ch. 2004-269, amended s. 402.3017 "[i]n order to implement proviso language in Specific Appropriation 2122F of the 2004-2005 General Appropriations Act."