Tuition Assistance
Unlock Opportunities with the Higher Education Tuition Assistance Fund!
Empower your educational journey with the Higher Education Tuition Assistance Fund designed exclusively for early child care providers. This fund offers financial support for approved coursework through both reimbursement and sponsorship, providing a maximum benefit of $5,000 per calendar year. You have the flexibility to cover educational costs dating back to Jan. 1, 2022, and can choose to utilize your benefit for coursework completed in 2022 or for courses taken between January 1st, 2022-December 31st, 2024. Reimbursement is available for those who have paid tuition out of pocket, ensuring that your commitment to education is recognized and supported.
The Higher Education Tuition Assistance Fund is your gateway to diverse courses tailored for early child care providers and many different types of courses can be covered. Examples include foundational courses like:
Child Development Foundations of Early Childhood Child Behavior
Family and Community Relationships
Business Development Courses
Business Management 101
Introduction to Accounting and Finance
Digital Marketing
Prerequisite education is just as vital – accredited courses in English as a Second Language, computer course (i.e. classes on computer use and skills), and GED preparation are fully applicable. The fund additionally extends its support to cover course-related expenses, with a maximum benefit of $300. This includes essential elements like testing/placement fees, translation services for diplomas and transcripts, and the purchase of required books. Please note that there must be documentation for the institution that specifies the need for additional expenses (i.e. syllabus, letter from the school on school letterhead which details which course materials needed, etc.) Your educational journey, enriched by these offerings, is just a step away with the Higher Education Tuition Assistance Fund!
A PROCESS OVERVIEW
6 Steps to Obtaining Tuition Assistance
1
Meet the Eligibility Criteria
- Must be Licensed or licensed-exempt
- Have cared for at least one subsidized child at any point within the past 12 months and be willing to offer care to subsidized children
- Early Childhood Education, Business Development, ESL, GED, Computer, or prerequisite requirements
- The school you want to attend must be an accredited California-based higher education institution
2
Identify a Program
- You can use the the California Community Colleges website to assist with locating a program near you!
- Please make sure your program or certificate is coursework related to Early Childhood Education or Business Development
3
Apply to the Institution
- You can apply to the institution via the college’s website or contact the college to get information on applying
4
Register for Courses
- Connect with your institution’s Admissions Department and/or an Academic Counselor for support
5
Apply for Tuition Assistance
- Apply by visiting our Tuition Assistance page
- Reimbursement is for out-of-pocket payments; Sponsorship goes directly to the school
- Please ensure you submit the required documents which are also listed on our website
6
Get Awarded!
- The funds will be sent to your school or directly to you via bill.com or physical check. Now your fees are paid!
Reimbursement
Reimbursement for tuition assistance ensures a hassle-free process whereby funds are paid directly to the family child care provider as a reimbursement. Reimbursements can be provided for coursework dating back to January 1st 2022 for a maximum amount of $5,000 per calendar year. Rest easy knowing that your educational journey is backed by this dedicated support. Submitting appropriate documentation for sponsorship is straightforward and can include various proofs for a smooth and efficient process. Appropriate documentation for reimbursement can include, but is not limited to:
Proof of course payment/cost of the course from institution
Any other relevant/supporting documentation for course(s) taken at an accredited CA educational institution.
A document to verify you have cared for at least one subsidized child within the past 12 months. For example: attendance sheet, child care schedule, or payment summary from the organization managing the subsidy.
Your course schedule per term OR unofficial transcript. We need to verify course eligibility (course enrollment, course titles and course dates).
A syllabus or another form of documentation for any course-related expenses you’ve paid for out of pocket. At this time, there must be documentation for the institution that specifies the need for additional expenses (syllabus, letter from the school on school letterhead which details which course materials needed, etc.)
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is tuition assistance funds that will be paid directly to the educational institution offering the course(s) on behalf of the family child care provider. Sponsorship is available for course work that occurs in 2023 and beyond. The maximum sponsorship amount is $5,000 per calendar year. Appropriate documentation for sponsorship can include, but is not limited to:
Student ID# Bursar
Student Account Statement or Student Bill
Cashier’s office contact information
A document to verify you have cared for at least one subsidized child within the past twelve months (for example: attendance sheet, child care schedule, or payment summary from the organization managing the subsidy).
Your course schedule per term or unofficial transcript. We need to verify course eligibility (course enrollment, course titles and course dates).
* Please note, For Sponsorships, we will mail a tuition/fees check directly to your school on your behalf. Sponsorship payment can take thirty to forty-five business days after an application is approved. We recommend you submit your Sponsorship application at least sixty days prior to your course payment due date.
Courses
Many different types of courses can be covered. Course examples include: Child Development Foundations of Early Childhood Child Behavior, Family and Community Relationships, Business Development Courses, Business Management 101, Introduction to Accounting and Finance and Digital Marketing.
Accredited prerequisite education courses are also applicable such as: English as a Second Language, Computer courses (i.e. classes on computer use, knowledge, etc) and GED.
The fund can also pay for course-related expenses. The maximum benefit of course related expenses is $300. Examples of course-related expenses included:
Testing/placement fees related to accessing college coursework
Translation of diplomas and transcripts from other schools books
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore answers to common queries to help navigate your educational journey. Here, we provide clarity on key aspects, ensuring you make informed decisions on your path to growth and learning.
Spanish Child Development and CDA Programs
Spanish ECE/CDA Courses at Theoria Technical College
Theoria Technical College offers Spanish ECE/CDA courses during the upcoming Winter Semester: December 2024 and January - February 2025. Please refer to this flyer for an overview of the winter schedule.
Theoria Technical College is a proud partner of the Council for Professional Recognition, which administers the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program. The courses offered at Theoria Technical College are entirely online, in a live-interactive virtual learning environment.
Theoria Technical College offers open enrollment. Students may enroll at any time. Please visit Theoria Technical College: Admissions to learn the specific Admissions Policies and Procedures.
If you have any questions about the Spanish ECE/CDA courses at Theoria Technical College, please connect with the Administration Department at admin@theoriatechnical.com and (760) 487-8436
Please note you may apply for Tuition Assistance after verifying that you meet all eligibility requirements and complete your enrollment at Los Angeles Harbor College or Theoria Technical College.
Spanish Child Development Program at LA Harbor College
The Spanish Child Development program at Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) offers Child Development and General Education courses, which are required in order to obtain an associate degree (AA/AS) or state Child Development permit. Most courses in the Spanish Child Development program are 2-3 units.
With the efforts and dedication of the staff, LAHC's Spanish Child Development program provides exceptional student support services. They organize free events and trainings to support your academic studies and professional development. For example, some trainings have been about California Child Development Permit, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), CANVAS (Online Learning System), and Careers in Child Development.
Please be sure to read this entire resource for more information. You can obtain information about the specific Child Development and General Education courses during Winter and Spring 2025, such as Administration & Supervision of Early Childhood Programs and Chicano Studies.
Additionally, you can obtain contact information for specific staff, and schedule an appointment with staff to answer your questions about LAHC's Spanish Child Development program. Applying to LAHC is FREE: APPLY HERE.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
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Providers must be a licensed or licensed-exempt provider.
Must have had a subsidized child within the past twelve months or between Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2024.
Must be willing to offer care to subsidized children Education sought must be professional development related to and in service of work as a Family Child Care provider; the content covered must be applicable to early childhood education or a business development. We will request context regarding applicability to the work of child care from applicants.
Education must be taken at accredited: CA public community colleges, CA State Universities, Universities of CA or private non-profit colleges. We hope to add additional adult education schools in the future.
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Yes! If you meet all of the eligibility requirements, we encourage you to apply.
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Child care providers must have cared for a subsidized child and/or children in the past twelve months or between Jan. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2024 to qualify for reimbursement. Furthermore, child care providers must be currently willing and able to offer care to subsidized children.
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You do not need to be currently enrolled or accepted into a school or program to be eligible for tuition assistance sponsorship. If you meet the eligibility requirements and have the desire to start higher education, we encourage you to apply.
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Yes you can. You are eligible to receive tuition assistance with awards totaling $5,000 per calendar year.
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Yes, you can apply for reimbursement for courses taken in 2022 or 2023, if you are no longer enrolled, but were able to complete the course(s) and/or graduated from your program.
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Yes, this is a separate scholarship funded by the CCPU Training Fund and you are encouraged to apply.
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Yes, the program must be taken at an accredited CA public community college, CA State University, Universities of CA, or private non-profit colleges. Accredited prerequisite education courses are also applicable.
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Yes, the program must be professional development related to your work as a family child care provider. This can include business, education, psychology courses and in service of work as a Family Child Care provider.
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No you do not need to be a union member in order to qualify for this benefit.
APPLICATION PROCESS
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Yes, if you need assistance to enroll in a higher education course, we would be happy to assist you. Please reach out to info@ccputrainingfund.org so we can schedule an appointment with you.
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The tuition assistance award can be used for tuition and can cover additional expenses for things like transcript requests, books, and other course requirements. Within the $5,000, an individual can request up to $300 to cover such expenses.
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Tuition paid for in 2022 and beyond, as well as, course materials.
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To successfully apply for tuition assistance, you will want to have documentation that clearly indicates:
Course information Dates of when course/class was taken
Course payment or cost of the course from the institution
Evidence of course requirements such as books, transcripts, etc.
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Registration Link
Student ID#
Bursar/Cashier’s office contact information
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Yes, you can reapply if you meet all the eligibility requirements and provide the appropriate documentation.
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The technical support portion of the fund will become available in Spring 2023. We will send out announcements via email, post on our website and share on social media platforms once it is available.
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No, you do not have to submit an essay. There are some write-in questions within the application that will help provide us with more information.
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No, you do not have to fill out a FAFSA form for this tuition assistance program.
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The Tuition Assistance program is for any member enrolled or planning to enroll in a CA accredited higher education program as it relates to the work as a Family Child Care Provider. This can include prerequisite education, continuing education, undergraduate, graduate, or PhD programs.
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We are able to pay for courses taken towards a certification program, as long as it is from an accredited higher education institution (public, private, state, community colleges, and trade schools) and applies to your work as a family child care provider.
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If your conference costs are a course-related expense, you can request up to $300 to cover these costs.
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No, there are no part time or full time restrictions for eligibility.
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Yes, you are eligible for tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 in that scenario.
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No, this program is for all CCPU bargaining unit members and will not cover dependents.
RECEIVING THE REWARD
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If your application for tuition assistance is approved, the following steps will take place:
You will be notified by the CCPU Training Fund via email or mail. We will be in contact if we need further information that is required, such as a Student ID number, school information, etc.
For sponsorship:
We will contact the educational institution to inform them of the award. We will then send a check in the appropriate amount to the educational institution.
For reimbursement:
We will send you the necessary forms to begin the payment process so you will get your full reimbursement in a timely manner.
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It can take between 30-60 business days to hear back on your award status. If you have not received any communication within this timeframe, please email us at info@ccputrainingfund.org.
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The tuition assistance fund cannot reimburse for tuition that was paid by financial aid, such as student loans, grants and scholarships. Only out-of-pocket tuition payments are eligible; such as payments made by debit card, credit card, checking account and electronic check, or payments made in-person at your campus with a money order, check or cash.
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We understand that there may be discrepancies with our records. Please email info@ccputrainingfund.org with proof of you having cared for a subsidized child(ren) within the past 12 months. We will review the documents you provided and reopen your application to be processed if we see that you’ve provided care for subsidized children.
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At this time, the Tuition Assistance Fund is for in-home providers (owners of child care businesses) not for center-based providers (providing child care/teaching within a center). If you decide to open an in-home child care business in the future, we encourage you to re-apply in the future
A BRIGHT FUTURE AWAITS
Embark on a transformative educational journey with the Higher Education Tuition Access Fund – your key to unlocking a world of opportunities. As early child care providers, your dedication to shaping young minds is acknowledged, celebrated and encouraged through our financial support. Whether through reimbursement or sponsorship, we're here to uplift your commitment to education. Your path to growth is not limited– let the Higher Education Tuition Access Fund inspire and propel you towards new horizons and opportunities.
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