News
January 2022
PACCA receives additional funding from OCDEL in FY 21-22!
Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) has generously granted PACCA additional funds to support approximately 100 more scholarships in this FY. These scholarships, specifically for staff employed in STAR 1 & STAR 2 programs, will provide additional supports including:
October 2021
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Applications for the Spring 2022 Semester!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Spring semester that begins in January should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Friday, November 14, 2021 in order to be considered for the Spring 2022 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the Spring 2022 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed – just contact our office and ask to be connected with a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
June 2021
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Applications for the Fall 2021 Semester!
November 2020
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship applications for the Spring 2021 semester - Deadline Extended to Nov 30th!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Spring semester that begins in January should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Monday, November 30, 2020 in order to be considered for the Spring 2021 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. PLEASE NOTE: New scholarship awards for the Spring 2021 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
July 2020
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship applications for the Fall 2020 semester!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Fall semester that begins in August should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Friday, August 7, 2020 in order to be considered for the Fall 2020 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the Fall 2020 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
June 2020
Apply now to T.E.A.C.H. for the Fall Semester!
PACCA is currently accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2020 semester! Even if your program is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, you and/or your staff can still submit an application to T.E.A.C.H. PACCA will issue Fall scholarship awards after July 1st when the new fiscal year begins. As always scholarship awards are dependent upon funding availability and eligibility criteria is subject to change without notice.
If you or your staff are planning to apply for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship, they should also complete the college admissions process and contact an ECE advisor now. Visit PACCA’s website at https://www.pacca.org/colleges_universities.php for a list of partnering institutions. Then click on the college/university name to view a profile with ECE Advisor contact information. Or contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at teachinfo@pacca.org to request the ECE Advisor contact information for your institution. This will help to ensure that you are admitted to your college/university and ready to register for courses if/when you receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship.
NEW T.E.A.C.H. Partner Institution – Harcum College!
PACCA is pleased to announce that T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships will be available at Harcum College for the Fall 2020 semester! For more information on Harcum’s program visit, https://www.harcum.edu/s/1044/edu/majors.aspx?sid=1044&gid=1&pgid=1302. Contact information for their ECE Advisor can also be found there.
For more information on T.E.A.C.H. and to download an application, visit our website at https://www.pacca.org/how_to_apply.php. If you have questions about T.E.A.C.H. or next steps to enrolling in college, please contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at (717) 657-9000 or teachinfo@pacca.org.
April 2020
Additional T.E.A.C.H. Financial Supports Available for Summer 2020
Through the generous support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), PACCA will offer additional financial supports for the upcoming Summer semesters. Our hope is that this additional financial assistance will help T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Recipients to enroll in coursework and ensure that employers can still sponsor their staff through the mandated closures of child care programs related to COVID-19. The following supports will be available during the Summer 2020 semesters:
T.E.A.C.H. COVID-19 Supports & Resources Webinar
Thursday, April 30th
10:00AM or 1:00 PM (each session will be one hour)
Please register for one of these free sessions here.
February 2020
T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Update for Spring 2020
PACCA has filled all available scholarship slots for the Spring 2020 semester. However we continue to accept T.E.A.C.H. applications on an ongoing basis and will issue awards for future semesters based on funding availability.
If you are an Early Childhood Education Professional interested in enrolling in college, PACCA recommends that you apply for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship AND to the college/university that you would like to attend as soon as possible. To learn more about T.E.A.C.H. partnering higher education institutions and their degree/program offerings, click here. To download a T.E.A.C.H. application, click here.
If you have questions about T.E.A.C.H. or next steps to enrolling in college, please contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at (717) 657-9000 or teachinfo@pacca.org.
May 2019
T.E.A.C.H. Funding Update for Fiscal Year 2019-2020
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) supports the degree attainment for early childhood educators through two scholarship programs in Pennsylvania, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA and Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA). In order to maximize Federal and State funding and streamline the scholarship options in PA, the requirements for eligibility under each program are changing for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2019, new criteria will be used to determine eligibility under each scholarship program - click here for more information on what will be funded through T.E.A.C.H. and RSTA.
Beginning July 1, 2019, OCDEL will prioritize public funding for T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to support students pursuing coursework toward the following:
PLEASE NOTE: T.E.A.C.H. participants currently receiving scholarships for the CDA Credential, Infant Toddler Certificate or Director Credential will NOT be impacted by this change. Questions about T.E.A.C.H.? Contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at teachinfo@pacca.org or (717) 657-9000.
For more information on funding for early childhood credentials and certificates through Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA), visit this link or contact Amber Repman at ambrep@pakeys.org or (717) 213-2071.
January 2019
T.E.A.C.H. Funding Update for 2019!
PACCA has filled all available T.E.A.C.H. scholarship slots for the upcoming Winter and Spring 2019 semesters. As a result all new eligible applicants will be wait listed until additional funding becomes available. PLEASE NOTE: Current recipients will continue to receive funding for the remainder of this fiscal year.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is deeply committed to investing in the early care and education workforce's educational attainment. OCDEL's tuition assistance funds both the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship (administered by PACCA) and Rising STARS (administered by the PA Key) programs. Although OCDEL expanded funding for T.E.A.C.H. and Rising Stars this fiscal year, the demand for scholarships has steadily increased over the new investments.
To help students still enroll for the Spring 2019 semester, OCDEL has indicated that any T.E.A.C.H. applicant who is eligible, but waiting for funding can apply for Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (through the PA Key) in the interim. Applicants can apply for tuition assistance for semester(s) occurring between now and June 30, 2019. PACCA will notify the PA Key of any eligible T.E.A.C.H applicants waiting for funding; the PA Key will then grant those applicants access to the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance application via an e-mail sent through the PD Registry.
IMPORTANT: This temporary access to Rising STARS Tuition Assistance will only be made available to individuals who have applied to T.E.A.C.H. and who are eligible, but wait listed for funding. Any staff interested in applying for T.E.A.C.H. for upcoming semesters, should still submit an application ASAP. Submitting an application helps PACCA to demonstrate the need for scholarships and make the case for additional funding from new sources. It also helps students to arrange for their financial assistance needs prior to their desired semester.
For more information on how to apply for T.E.A.C.H. or to download a scholarship application, click here. If you have questions or need more information, please contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at teachinfo@pacca.org or (717) 657-9000.
November 2017
Apply NOW for the Spring 2018 semester!
Winter hasn’t even arrived yet, but Spring 2018 semesters will begin in just about two months. If you are interested in starting college classes for January 2018 - NOW is the time to get started! Colleges and universities will close for winter break in approximately 4-6 weeks. Be sure to contact a college advisor immediately, so you can complete the admissions process and register for classes before January.
Visit https://www.pacca.org/how_to_apply.php to download a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship application. Or contact our office and speak to a Scholarship Counselor about next steps. We are here to help you get started on reaching your educational goals! You can reach our staff at (717) 657-9000 or teachinfo@pacca.org.
August 2016
Pennsylvania Restores Public Funds to T.E.A.C.H.
PACCA receives additional funding from OCDEL in FY 21-22!
Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) has generously granted PACCA additional funds to support approximately 100 more scholarships in this FY. These scholarships, specifically for staff employed in STAR 1 & STAR 2 programs, will provide additional supports including:
- A $200 completion stipend to scholarship recipients upon successful completion of their first semester,
- Increased release time reimbursement rates to employers ($15 per hour),
- Training & technical assistance for employers (see webinar information below), and
- Enhanced counseling sessions (day and evening) for staff related to the college application/admissions processes and T.E.A.C.H. application (more information & registration links to follow soon).
October 2021
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Applications for the Spring 2022 Semester!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Spring semester that begins in January should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Friday, November 14, 2021 in order to be considered for the Spring 2022 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the Spring 2022 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed – just contact our office and ask to be connected with a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
June 2021
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Applications for the Fall 2021 Semester!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Fall semester that begins in August should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Friday, July 9, 2021 in order to be considered for the Fall 2021 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the Fall 2021 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed – just contact our office and ask to be connected with a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed – just contact our office and ask to be connected with a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
November 2020
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship applications for the Spring 2021 semester - Deadline Extended to Nov 30th!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Spring semester that begins in January should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Monday, November 30, 2020 in order to be considered for the Spring 2021 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. PLEASE NOTE: New scholarship awards for the Spring 2021 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
July 2020
PACCA is accepting T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship applications for the Fall 2020 semester!
ECE Professionals interested in attending college for the Fall semester that begins in August should apply to T.E.A.C.H. now! T.E.A.C.H. applications must be complete and submitted with all required documentation/information by Friday, August 7, 2020 in order to be considered for the Fall 2020 semester. PACCA will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis, however incomplete applications and applications received after this date will not receive priority for consideration. New scholarship awards for the Fall 2020 semester will be dependent upon funding availability at that time.
Interested applicants should also begin the college admissions process now and contact an ECE advisor at their intended college/university. This helps to ensure that scholarship applicants are admitted to their college/university and can register for courses if/when they receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. can provide contact information for ECE advisors at partnering institutions if needed.
Click here to download a scholarship application. Questions? Click here to contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.
June 2020
Apply now to T.E.A.C.H. for the Fall Semester!
PACCA is currently accepting scholarship applications for the Fall 2020 semester! Even if your program is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, you and/or your staff can still submit an application to T.E.A.C.H. PACCA will issue Fall scholarship awards after July 1st when the new fiscal year begins. As always scholarship awards are dependent upon funding availability and eligibility criteria is subject to change without notice.
If you or your staff are planning to apply for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship, they should also complete the college admissions process and contact an ECE advisor now. Visit PACCA’s website at https://www.pacca.org/colleges_universities.php for a list of partnering institutions. Then click on the college/university name to view a profile with ECE Advisor contact information. Or contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at teachinfo@pacca.org to request the ECE Advisor contact information for your institution. This will help to ensure that you are admitted to your college/university and ready to register for courses if/when you receive a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship.
NEW T.E.A.C.H. Partner Institution – Harcum College!
PACCA is pleased to announce that T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships will be available at Harcum College for the Fall 2020 semester! For more information on Harcum’s program visit, https://www.harcum.edu/s/1044/edu/majors.aspx?sid=1044&gid=1&pgid=1302. Contact information for their ECE Advisor can also be found there.
For more information on T.E.A.C.H. and to download an application, visit our website at https://www.pacca.org/how_to_apply.php. If you have questions about T.E.A.C.H. or next steps to enrolling in college, please contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at (717) 657-9000 or teachinfo@pacca.org.
April 2020
Additional T.E.A.C.H. Financial Supports Available for Summer 2020
Through the generous support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), PACCA will offer additional financial supports for the upcoming Summer semesters. Our hope is that this additional financial assistance will help T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Recipients to enroll in coursework and ensure that employers can still sponsor their staff through the mandated closures of child care programs related to COVID-19. The following supports will be available during the Summer 2020 semesters:
- T.E.A.C.H. students who enroll in summer courses will receive an additional $250 access stipend to help with technology expenses associated with on-line coursework; this stipend will be in addition to the standard travel stipend and book reimbursement,
- Recipients and employers will NOT pay tuition assessments for the summer semesters – 100% of tuition will be covered by T.E.A.C.H. and the tuition assessments will be waived for all recipients who enroll and their employers.
T.E.A.C.H. COVID-19 Supports & Resources Webinar
Thursday, April 30th
10:00AM or 1:00 PM (each session will be one hour)
Please register for one of these free sessions here.
February 2020
T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Update for Spring 2020
PACCA has filled all available scholarship slots for the Spring 2020 semester. However we continue to accept T.E.A.C.H. applications on an ongoing basis and will issue awards for future semesters based on funding availability.
If you are an Early Childhood Education Professional interested in enrolling in college, PACCA recommends that you apply for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship AND to the college/university that you would like to attend as soon as possible. To learn more about T.E.A.C.H. partnering higher education institutions and their degree/program offerings, click here. To download a T.E.A.C.H. application, click here.
If you have questions about T.E.A.C.H. or next steps to enrolling in college, please contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at (717) 657-9000 or teachinfo@pacca.org.
May 2019
T.E.A.C.H. Funding Update for Fiscal Year 2019-2020
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) supports the degree attainment for early childhood educators through two scholarship programs in Pennsylvania, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA and Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA). In order to maximize Federal and State funding and streamline the scholarship options in PA, the requirements for eligibility under each program are changing for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2019, new criteria will be used to determine eligibility under each scholarship program - click here for more information on what will be funded through T.E.A.C.H. and RSTA.
Beginning July 1, 2019, OCDEL will prioritize public funding for T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to support students pursuing coursework toward the following:
- Associate degrees in Early Childhood Education (or an approved equivalent)
- Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education (or an approved equivalent)
- PreK-4 Teacher Certification (Level I and Level II)
PLEASE NOTE: T.E.A.C.H. participants currently receiving scholarships for the CDA Credential, Infant Toddler Certificate or Director Credential will NOT be impacted by this change. Questions about T.E.A.C.H.? Contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at teachinfo@pacca.org or (717) 657-9000.
For more information on funding for early childhood credentials and certificates through Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA), visit this link or contact Amber Repman at ambrep@pakeys.org or (717) 213-2071.
January 2019
T.E.A.C.H. Funding Update for 2019!
PACCA has filled all available T.E.A.C.H. scholarship slots for the upcoming Winter and Spring 2019 semesters. As a result all new eligible applicants will be wait listed until additional funding becomes available. PLEASE NOTE: Current recipients will continue to receive funding for the remainder of this fiscal year.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is deeply committed to investing in the early care and education workforce's educational attainment. OCDEL's tuition assistance funds both the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship (administered by PACCA) and Rising STARS (administered by the PA Key) programs. Although OCDEL expanded funding for T.E.A.C.H. and Rising Stars this fiscal year, the demand for scholarships has steadily increased over the new investments.
To help students still enroll for the Spring 2019 semester, OCDEL has indicated that any T.E.A.C.H. applicant who is eligible, but waiting for funding can apply for Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (through the PA Key) in the interim. Applicants can apply for tuition assistance for semester(s) occurring between now and June 30, 2019. PACCA will notify the PA Key of any eligible T.E.A.C.H applicants waiting for funding; the PA Key will then grant those applicants access to the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance application via an e-mail sent through the PD Registry.
IMPORTANT: This temporary access to Rising STARS Tuition Assistance will only be made available to individuals who have applied to T.E.A.C.H. and who are eligible, but wait listed for funding. Any staff interested in applying for T.E.A.C.H. for upcoming semesters, should still submit an application ASAP. Submitting an application helps PACCA to demonstrate the need for scholarships and make the case for additional funding from new sources. It also helps students to arrange for their financial assistance needs prior to their desired semester.
For more information on how to apply for T.E.A.C.H. or to download a scholarship application, click here. If you have questions or need more information, please contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor at teachinfo@pacca.org or (717) 657-9000.
November 2017
Apply NOW for the Spring 2018 semester!
Winter hasn’t even arrived yet, but Spring 2018 semesters will begin in just about two months. If you are interested in starting college classes for January 2018 - NOW is the time to get started! Colleges and universities will close for winter break in approximately 4-6 weeks. Be sure to contact a college advisor immediately, so you can complete the admissions process and register for classes before January.
Visit https://www.pacca.org/how_to_apply.php to download a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship application. Or contact our office and speak to a Scholarship Counselor about next steps. We are here to help you get started on reaching your educational goals! You can reach our staff at (717) 657-9000 or teachinfo@pacca.org.
August 2016
Pennsylvania Restores Public Funds to T.E.A.C.H.