Child Development Scholarship (CDS) Program – FY 2007-08

Since 2001, the WV Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) has administered the CDS program in partnership with the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR). The HEPC has made approximately 95 awards annually to child care workers for courses at community and technical colleges and universities in early child development fields. The scholarship pays for one 3-hour course per semester and a $150 stipend for books and other expenses. Scholarships are awarded for spring, summer, and fall courses.

                Eligibility has been limited to those who completed the Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) program. In FY 2008, DHHR has increased CDS funding for scholarships from $50,000 to $145,636 and required that eligibility be broadened. The reason for this increase is to meet the challenge of a new State Board of Education policy which requires that, by 2012-13, all new pre-k teachers hired in community programs must have a bachelor’s degree in an early childhood field. In light of this funding increase, the HEPC plans to subcontract administration of the program to the campuses. Historically, the HEPC transferred funds to each campus and identified the students who would receive the award. Under the new plan, the HEPC will transfer a total amount, and the campus will make student awards and be responsible for reporting outcomes to the HEPC.

Eligibility criteria

·     Employed full time in a full-day, year-round licensed child care centers (by definition, Head Start and county school system programs, which have their own training funds, would not qualify);

·     Enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a West Virginia college or university in an AAS in occupational development degree with an early childhood specialization, or other undergraduate degree in a child development field with an early childhood specialization; and

·     Enrolled in a course that counts toward an approved degree or meets remediation requirements for an approved degree.

Awarding preferences

Category 1: Eligible applicants who have successfully completed the U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) Program or are in the fourth semester of the ACDS program. Child care workers who are active at Level V of the STARS Career Pathway will meet this preference.

Category 2: Eligible applicants who have at least one of the following:

A. Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate;

B. 12 college credits in early care & education; or

C. Enrolled in the third semester of the ACDS program.

Child care workers who are active at Level IV of the STARS Career Pathway will meet this preference.

For more information, contact

         Alicia Tyler

         Office of Health Sciences

         WV Higher Education Policy Commission

         Phone: (304) 558-0530, ext. 279; Fax: 558-0532; Email: tyler@hepc.wvnet.edu