TRAC / Scholarships
TRAC / Scholarships
Teacher TRAC and Director TRAC Scholarships
The goal of Teacher and Director TRAC (Training, Retention, and Compensation) is to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of early care and education for children and families by encouraging and supporting college level coursework for child care teachers and directors.
The scholarships are for early child care and education employees or center directors working in Austin and/or Travis County at a licensed childcare center or licensed/registered family home that has a contract to accept families using subsidies.
The TRAC scholarships provide the following benefits to eligible child care professionals:
- Tuition for one course each semester
- Textbook loans
- Assistance with course selection, class enrollment, and educational guidance
- Financial incentive paid upon successful completion of the first course and after each successful completion of 12 hours of college credit in a Child Development degree plan
- Ongoing support and advising by the department throughout your college experience
The program is administered by the ACC Child Care and Development Department and is a partnership between Austin Community College, the City of Austin, Travis County, Workforce Solutions Capital Area and local child care providers.
Apply to Teacher TRAC
Teacher/Director TRAC Application Form and Instructions:
- Word Doc:
- PDF: Teacher TRAC application Spring 2023
New students: Begin the ACC enrollment process immediately. You must complete the ACC enrollment process before your Teacher TRAC application will be processed.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PRIORITIES:
- Six months experience working directly with young children (or as a director or assistant director) in a qualifying child care setting
- Three months experience working in your current child care setting
- Hourly wage of $20/hr or less
Eligible students are matched with the appropriate funding source based on available funds and the information provided on the application.
If you have questions, please email rmcgough@austincc.edu.
First priority is given to child care professionals working 30 hours or more per week. Eligible teachers working less than 30 hours a week will be enrolled if funding is available.
Secondary priorities vary by funding source. They include:
- current participation in Teacher/Director TRAC
- working with a mentor as part of the Quality Child Care Collaborative (QC3) project
- employment at center that is a part of the Texas or Austin Rising Star System
T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) Scholarship
The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Texas Scholarship Program is administered by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children. Financial assistance includes scholarships for:
- Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) Assessment Fee
- Associate Degree programs
- Bachelor Degree programs
For more information and to apply, link to their website.
Jeanette Watson Wage Supplementation
The Jeanette Watson Wage Supplementation Project provides wage supplementation payments directly to eligible early childhood educators and directors. The amount of the payment is based on the college credit in early childhood coursework you have earned.
The program is administered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area Child Care Services. For eligibility criteria and application instructions, link to their website or contact them directly at 512-597-7191.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The ACC Financial Aid office can help you with grants, scholarships, loans and work-study. Most students are eligible for some type of financial aid.
You can apply for multiple ACC Foundation scholarships with one application. Search for “child development” to see scholarship opportunities specifically for Child Care and Development students. Use the filters to find other scholarships for which you may be eligible.