Early Childhd Develpment Services Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram
Table f Cntents Overview... 2 Prgram Descriptin... 2 Eligibility Criteria... 3 Apprved Early Childhd Training Prgrams... 3 Prgram Timelines... 3 Applicatin Prcess... 4 Required Dcumentatin... 4 Applicatin Deadline... 4 Cntact Infrmatin... 4 Submissin f the Applicatin Package... 5 Applicatin Review Prcess... 6 Applicatins Checked fr Cmpleteness... 6 Applicatin Eligibility... 6 Ntificatin f Eligible Applicatin... 7 Reimbursement Prcess... 8 Accumulated Hurs... 8 Failure t Accumulate the Required Hurs... 9 Cancellatin f Participatin in the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram...11 Reminder Letters...12 Tw Year Prgram:...12 6 Mnth Reminder...12 1 Year Reminder...12 Fur Year Prgram:...12 6 Mnth Reminder...12 1 Year Reminder...12 18 Mnth Reminder...13 2 Year Reminder...13 Applicant s Lan Payments...13 Taxable Benefits...13 Depending n the applicant s situatin, Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram may r may nt be a taxable benefit....13 Appendix A Definitins...14 Versin: 3.0 1
Overview The bjective f the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram (ECEAP) is t enhance the ability f child care prgrams t recruit and retain staff by: prviding affrdable training t individuals wishing t pursue a career in child care; and increasing the number f early childhd trained educatrs (ECE diplma/undergraduate degree) wrking in licensed child care. Prgram Descriptin The purpse f the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram is t enhance the ability f child care prgrams t recruit and retain staff by prviding financial supprt t individuals interested in pursuing a career in Early Childhd Educatin (ECE). The intent f the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram is t prvide assistance with the cst f the tuitin and curse materials nly. Other csts such as living expenses and travel must be cvered by the student. The Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram prvides a debt reductin incentive t eligible graduates f an ECE diplma/ undergraduate degree prgram. Graduates must graduate frm an apprved ECE training institutin and wh have received a student lan thrugh the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram fr their educatin. Applicants must be enrlled in the ECE prgram full time and their graduatin date must be after 1 April 2008. Each applicant can qualify fr up t a maximum f $5000 in funding fr each year f attendance at the ECE diplma/ undergraduate degree institutin fr which a student lan was received up t maximum f fur years. Applicants will be required t accumulate 1500 hurs per year f reimbursement up t the numbers f years f the prgram (i.e. tw year diplma r fur year undergraduate degree). These hurs must be accumulated wrking in a Nva Sctia licensed child care facility r Family Hme Day Care (FHDC) agency. Payment will be made by the Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment t the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram with the Department f Labur and Edvanced Educatin n behalf f the successful applicant. If the applicant received bth Nva Sctia and Canada Student lans, the payment will be made t the Nva Sctia Student lan first. If there is n balance n the Nva Sctia Student lan fr the years eligible, the remaining prtin f the payment will made t the Canada Student lan. Versin: 3.0 2
Eligibility Criteria T be eligible fr the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram, applicants must have; btained a lan thrugh the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram; was enrlled as a full-time student in a full-time ECE diplma/ undergraduate degree prgram; graduated frm an apprved, full-time ECE diplma/ undergraduate degree prgram; btained emplyment in a Nva Sctia licensed child care facility r FHDC agency; submitted an Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram applicatin within fur mnths after graduatin; and wrked 1500 hurs in a licensed Nva Sctia child care facility r Family Hme Day Care (FHDC) agency fr each year f training fr each year f reimbursement. Apprved Early Childhd Training Prgrams The Early Childhd training must be taken frm ne f the fllwing apprved Nva Sctia ECE training institutins: Institute fr Human Services Educatin (IHSE); Munt Saint Vincent University, Child & Yuth Study; Nva Sctia Cmmunity Cllege, Early Childhd Studies; Nva Sctia Cllege f Early Childhd Educatin; Island Career Academy Prgram Timelines The Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram was initiated April 1, 2008 and will end March 31, 2016. Applicatins fr reimbursement will be accepted until September 30, 2016 (fur mnths after graduatin). Apprved applicants wh graduate in 2016 frm a diplma prgram will receive reimbursement fr tw years f study, i.e. until 2018. Apprved applicants wh graduate in 2016 frm Munt St. Vincent University will receive reimbursement fr 4 years f study, i.e. until 2020. Versin: 3.0 3
Required Dcumentatin Applicatin Prcess Applicants are required t cmplete an Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram applicatin frm and attach the fllwing supprting dcuments: Evidence frm the training institutin that the ECE diplma/ undergraduate degree was successfully cmpleted. Evidence must be in a frm f a letter r fficial transcript issued by the training institutin. Cnfirmatin that the applicant is wrking in a licensed Nva Sctia child care facility r FHDC agency. Cnfirmatin must include the start date f the emplyment and must be in a frm f: a letter frm the emplyer; r a pay stub; r the emplyer cmpletes sectin 2 n the applicatin. Applicatin Deadline Applicatins fr the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram must be submitted within fur mnths f the applicant s graduatin date. Cntact Infrmatin The Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram Applicatin may be btained frm the Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment, Early Years Branch website at http://www.ednet.ns.ca/earlyyears/pd/earlychildhdeducatin.shtml Applicants requiring additinal infrmatin abut the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram are requested t cntact the Crdinatr, Family Hme Day Care and Early Childhd Educatin (Crdinatr), Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment, Early Years Branch at 1-902-424-5460 r by email at creamek@gv.ns.ca. Versin: 3.0 4
Submissin f the Applicatin Package Cmpleted applicatins and supprting dcuments must be mailed t: Crdinatr, Family Hme Day Care & Early Childhd Educatin Early Childhd Develpment Services Early Years Branch Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment PO Bx 578 Halifax, NS B3J 2S9 Versin: 3.0 5
Applicatin Review Prcess Applicatins Checked fr Cmpleteness After the applicatin frm and supprting dcuments are received, they will be reviewed t ensure that the applicatin frm has been prperly cmpleted and the supprting dcuments cntain all required infrmatin. If the applicatin frm r dcuments are incmplete, the applicant will be cntacted by telephne r letter t request the missing infrmatin. If the applicatin is nt cmplete within 30 days, the applicatin will nt be prcessed. Applicatin Eligibility Applicants are cnsidered eligible fr the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram if they: Receive a lan thrugh the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram fr each year they are applying fr the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram. Other cmmercial r persnal lans will nt be accepted; Graduate successfully frm an apprved ECE training prgram as listed in these Terms and Cnditins; Are emplyed in a Nva Sctia licensed child care facility r FHDC agency; Submit an Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram applicatin within fur mnths after graduatin; and Cmmit t wrk in a Nva Sctia licensed child care facility r FHDC agency fr 1500 hurs fr each year f reimbursement. The reimbursement will be subject t the applicant fulfilling the cmmitment t wrk in a Nva Sctia licensed child care facility r FHDC agency upn graduatin as utlined in the Reimbursement Prcess Funding allcatins are subject t Departmental budget. Versin: 3.0 6
Ntificatin f Eligible Applicatin Fllwing the review f the applicatin, the applicant will be ntified by letter if their applicatin was eligible r nt eligible fr the prgram. The letter will prvide details f the amunts fr each eligible year and deadlines fr accumulatin f the required hurs. Eligible applicants will be required t begin accumulating the required hurs f wrk in a licensed Nva Sctia child care facility r FHDC agency. Once the required hurs are accumulated, the reimbursement prcess will begin as utlined in the Reimbursement Prcess. Versin: 3.0 7
Reimbursement Prcess Applicants are directly respnsible fr the administratin f the lan payments within the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram. Applicants are als respnsible fr applying fr any prgrams that the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram ffers, e.g. interest relief. Reimbursement will be made t the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram n behalf f the applicant after the required number f hurs has been accumulated. Fr every 1500 hurs wrked within a ne year perid, a payment f a lesser f $5000.00 r the amunt f the lan will be made t the applicant s student lan fr that year. The Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment will prvide the applicant with cnfirmatin f the payments made n their student lan frm the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram. Accumulated Hurs Applicants will be required t accumulate 1500 hurs per year f reimbursement. If the applicant cmpleted a full-time tw year training prgram, they must wrk 1500 hurs every year fr tw years t be reimbursed fr the tw year prgram. If the applicant cmpleted a full-time fur year training prgram, they must wrk 1500 hurs every year fr fur years t be reimbursed fr the fur year prgram. Applicants are required t reprt their hurs wrked in a Nva Sctia licensed child care facility r FHDC agency using the Accumulated Hurs Reprt (the Reprt). Template will be prvided. The Accumulated Hurs Reprt must nly be sent when 1500 hurs are accumulated. The Reprt shuld be sent t: Crdinatr, Family Hme Day Care & Early Childhd Educatin Early Childhd Develpment Services Early Years Branch Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment PO Bx 578 Halifax, NS B3J 2S9 When the 1500 hurs reprted fr that year are received by the Department, the lan reimbursement fr that year will be sent t the Nva Sctia Student Assistance prgram. The Versin: 3.0 8
Reprt must be sent by the 15 th f the mnth fr the payment t be made befre the end f that mnth. The applicant is respnsible fr keeping track and btaining cnfirmatin f cmpleted hurs f wrk frm their emplyer if they change their place f emplyment. It is the respnsibility f the applicant t ntify the Crdinatr, Family Hme Day Care and Early Childhd Educatin f any changes t their address r cntact infrmatin. Failure t Accumulate the Required Hurs If the applicant fails t accumulate 1500 hurs within ne year f the eligibility date, the fllwing will apply: Tw year ECE diplma prgram an additinal six mnths will be given t accumulate the required hurs. the applicant will have 18 mnths frm the Applicatin Eligibility date t accumulate 1500 hurs. nly ne reimbursement will be paid instead f the tw reimbursements fr tw years f the lan. Example: Applicants wh fail t meet the accumulated hurs requirements, frfeit a year f Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram eligibility. Accumulated Hurs Reprt deadline Reprt received by deadline Reimbursement applied t lan Reprt received at 18 mnths Reimbursement applied t lan July 15, 2011 N Nne January15, 2013 Only ne payment fr 1 st and 2 nd year Fur year ECE undergraduate degree prgram an additinal 6 mnths will be given t accumulate the required hurs. the applicant will have 18 mnths frm the Applicatin Eligibility date t accumulate 1500 hurs. Versin: 3.0 9
nly ne reimbursement will be paid fr the first and secnd year f the lan. if the applicant fails t accumulate 1500 hurs in the third year f the prgram an additinal 6 mnths will be given. the applicant will have 18 mnths frm the last reimbursement date t accumulate 1500 hurs. nly ne reimbursement will be paid fr the third and furth year f the lan. Applicants wh fail t meet the accumulated hurs requirements, frfeit up t tw years f Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram eligibility. Example: Accumulated Hurs Reprt deadline July 15, 2011 Reprt received by deadline Reimbursement applied t lan Reprt received at 18 mnths N Nne January15, 2013 Reimbursement Applied t lan Only ne payment fr 1 st and 2 nd year Reprt received by January 15,2014 Reprt received at 18 mnths N July 15, 2014 Reimbursement Applied t lan Only ne payment fr 3 rd and 4 th year Versin: 3.0 10
Cancellatin f Participatin in the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram The Department will cancel the applicant s enrllment frm the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram if: Tw year ECE Diplma prgram: The applicant fails t send the Accumulatin Hurs Reprt within 18 mnths frm the Applicatin Eligibility date. The applicant fails t accumulate 1500 hurs within 18 mnths frm the Applicatin Eligibility date. The applicant fails t send any cmmunicatin t the Department regarding their participatin status in the Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram within 18 mnths f the Applicatin Eligibility date. Fur year ECE Undergraduate Degree prgram: The applicant fails t send the Accumulatin Hurs Reprt within 18 mnths frm the Applicatin Eligibility date r within18 mnths frm any anniversary date f the eligibility date. The applicant fails t accumulate 1500 hurs within 18 mnths frm the Applicatin Eligibility date r within 18 mnths frm any anniversary date f the eligibility date. The applicant fails t send any cmmunicatin t the Department regarding their participatin status in the prgram within the 18 mnths f the Applicatin Eligibility date r within 18 mnths frm any anniversary date f the eligibility date. Versin: 3.0 11
Reminder Letters Tw Year Prgram: 6 Mnth Reminder The Department will send the applicant a reminder letter six mnths after the applicatin eligibility date. This letter will remind the applicant t cntinue t accumulate hurs and t send the Accumulated Hurs Reprt when they reach the required 1500 hurs f wrk within ne year f the Applicatin Eligibility date. 1 Year Reminder One year after the Applicatin Eligibility date, a reminder letter will be sent t the applicants wh have nt sent the Accumulated Hurs Reprt within ne year f the Applicatin Eligibility date. This letter will remind them that they will have nly additinal six mnths t reprt the required hurs t receive partial reimbursement as stated in the Reimbursement Prcess under the Accumulated Hurs sectin. Fur Year Prgram: 6 Mnth Reminder The Department will send the applicant a reminder letter six mnths after the applicatin Eligibility date. This letter will remind the applicant t cntinue t accumulate hurs and t send the Accumulated Hurs Reprt when they reach the required 1500 hurs f wrk within ne year f the Applicatin Eligibility date. 1 Year Reminder One year after the Applicatin Eligibility date, a reminder letter will be sent t the applicants wh have nt sent the Accumulated Hurs Reprt within ne year f the Applicatin Eligibility date. This letter will remind them that they will have nly an additinal six mnths t reprt the required hurs t receive partial reimbursement as stated in the Reimbursement Prcess under the Accumulated Hurs sectin. Versin: 3.0 12
18 Mnth Reminder The Department will send the applicant a reminder letter 18 mnths after the eligibility date. This letter will remind the applicant t cntinue t accumulate hurs and t send the Accumulated Hurs Reprt when they reach required 1500 hurs f wrk within ne year f the last Accumulatin Hurs Reprt. 2 Year Reminder Tw years after the Applicatin Eligibility date, a reminder letter will be sent t the applicants wh have nt sent the Accumulated Hurs Reprt within ne year f Applicatin Eligibility date. This letter will remind them that they will have nly an additinal 6 mnths t reprt the required hurs t receive partial reimbursement as stated in the Reimbursement Prcess under the Accumulated Hurs sectin. Applicant s Lan Payments Payment will be made t the Student Assistance prgram n behalf f the applicant. In a situatin where the utstanding lan amunt is less than the amunt reimbursable, the Department will issue a cheque t the applicant fr the difference. Taxable Benefits Depending n the applicant s situatin, Early Childhd Educatin Assistance Prgram may r may nt be a taxable benefit. Fr mre infrmatin, please cntact the Student Assistance prgram at the Department f Educatin at: http://studentlans.ednet.ns.ca and Canada Revenue agency at: www.cra.gc.ca Versin: 3.0 13
Appendix A Definitins Accumulated hurs refers t the number f hurs accumulated while wrking in a licensed Nva Sctia child care and FHDC agency care; Applicatin Deadline date refers t the date fur mnths after applicant s graduatin date; Applicatin Eligibility date refers t the date applicatin was received by the Department; Crdinatr refers t Crdinatr Family Hme Day Care and Early Childhd Educatin; Department refers t the Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment Directr refers t the Directr f Early Childhd Develpment Services Fiscal Year refers t the prvincial gvernment business year which runs fr the twelve mnths frm 1 April f any given year until 31 March f the fllwing year; Full-time training ECE diplma/ undergraduate degree prgram refers t curse lad which is at least 60% f a full curse lad an applicant must take during the regular academic year. Fr example: If 5 curses are cnsidered a full curse lad, then 3 curses are 60 per cent (3/5x100=60); Reimbursement refers t the payment made by the Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment t the Nva Sctia Student Assistance n behalf f the applicants; Student lan refers t the lan btained frm the Nva Sctia Student Assistance. Versin: 3.0 14