Child Care WAGE$

Child Care WAGE$

The Child Care WAGE$ Application will open at 12:00pm on October 1st, 2025.

La solicitud del Child Care WAGE$ se abrirá el 1 de octubre de 2025, a las 12:00pm.

What is WAGE$?

WAGE$ provides education-based salary supplements to center-based educators and family childcare providers working with children in an early childhood setting. The program is designed to increase retention, education, and compensation. The program is funded with Preschool Development Grant (PDG) funding awarded to the State of Rhode Island. This funding is available for a limited time and based on the parameters of the federal grant.

Do You Qualify?
Download Fact Sheet
Descargue el volante en español aquí

Watch our Infosession

Starting October 1, WAGE$ staff will be available to provide in-person application assistance to English and Spanish-speaking individuals on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-3pm. Individuals must bring all required documentation including official transcripts, copies of their up-to-date CDA credential (if applicable), recent copies of their paystubs, and their RISES ID. For Family Child Care Providers, please bring your 2024 Schedule C for proof of income. 

A partir del 1 de octubre, el personal de WAGE$ estará disponible para brindar asistencia en persona con las solicitudes a personas que hablen inglés y español los lunes y miércoles de 1 a 3 p.m. Los solicitantes deben traer toda la documentación requerida, incluyendo transcripciones oficiales, copias actualizadas de su credencial CDA (si corresponde), copias recientes de sus talonarios de pago y su ID de RISES. Para los Proveedores de Cuidado Infantil Familiar, por favor traiga su Formulario Schedule C del 2024 como comprobante de ingresos.

(Spanish)

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Por favor, póngase en contacto con [email protected] si tiene alguna pregunta.

Some individuals who qualified for the Step Up to WAGE$ pilot program may find they are no longer eligible under the updated criteria. We recognize this may be disappointing, and we want to emphasize that these changes are intended to help us focus our limited resources where they can have the greatest impact, based on what we’ve learned from the pilot.

 

Algunas personas que calificaron para el programa piloto Step Up to WAGE$ podrían descubrir que ya no son elegibles bajo los criterios actualizados. Reconocemos que esto puede ser decepcionante y queremos enfatizar que estos cambios están destinados a ayudarnos a enfocar nuestros recursos limitados donde puedan tener el mayor impacto, basado en lo que aprendimos del piloto.

Child Care WAGE$ Funding Claim

This project was made possible by grant number 90TP0135. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Child Care WAGE$ is a licensed program of Early Years.

Testimonials

“My husband and I have been praying for a break because we are struggling financially. The cost of living is going so high including my family's health insurance Etc (I am pretty much working just to pay the 1300 a month) We are so beyond grateful for this help! After 34 years of working with children and families, I only make $20 an hour 😔. Who can I officially write a thank you card to? “
“Wow, this is absolutely amazing! I am incredibly excited and appreciative! You have no idea what kind of year I've had. I feel proud to be in the field that I am in and doing the work that I love to do every day!”
“The programs helped my centers by helping my staff. They work hard and need more support than I can offer alone.”
“The money I received has helped me tremendously. As inflation continues to increase, my hourly wage is not sufficient to meet my living expenses. This helped me continue to perform this very important work. I don't always receive an annual increase which is not due to my job performance.”

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