Eight Carroll Community College Early Childhood Education students will receive help with tuition, college fees and books starting this fall, thanks to being selected to receive new individual grants from the Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund (CCCPDF). The Fund is an initiative of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

The CCCPDF provides funding for credentialed child care providers to pursue college degrees. Carroll offers two associate degrees in Early Childhood Education, the A.A.S. and the A.A.T. The twelve new grant recipients are already working in the child care field. The grants will allow them to expand their credentials to include Early Childhood Education degrees.

Carole Williamson, Early Childhood Discipline Coordinator at Carroll, said: “The CCCPDF initiative helps to improve the quality of care available during the early critical years of development.”

This is not the first time that Carroll students have been selected by MSDE as CCCPDF grant recipients.

Heather Bailey, Carroll adjunct faculty member and CCCPDF coordinator, said: “High-quality teachers are needed at every level of education. Part of the challenge is to make education for college students affordable. The CCCPDF initiative helps to make the college dream a reality for students seeking higher education in the early childhood education field.”

Upon completion of college credits or degrees earned due in part or in whole to the receipt of a CCPDF grant, the recipient commits to continue employment as a child care provider for a pre-determined period of time.

“I am exceedingly proud of our Early Childhood Education students, who demonstrate every day their commitment and dedication to the education of young children,” said Carroll President Dr. James D. Ball. “I believe that by achieving an associate degree, these students will become high-caliber, effective motivators for young children to love to learn.”

“Early Childhood Education continues to be a robust major at Carroll,” said Susan Sies, professor and Chair of the Education Department. “Carroll is recognized regionally and nationally for its reputation of developing caring teachers with high-quality skills. In addition, the state has demonstrated its commitment to developing professionals in the field through the CCCPDF initiative.”

Applications for the CCCPDF fund for the 2016-17 academic year are due March 2, 2016.

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