Workforce Pathways
Announcement
Quality Counts California, Early Learning and Care, Workforce Pathways Stipend Program
2025-2026
The Consortium for Early Learning Services is happy to announce the 2025-2026 Quality Counts California, Early Learning and Care, Workforce Pathways Stipend Program (QCC WPSP). This year the professional development stipend is $500, plus there is additional money for finishing a degree in ECE/ECS during the program year. So, if you are planning on taking college coursework please hurry and register for courses. You can call us if you have questions about coursework. In addition, if you are employed as a substitute classroom staff member and meet the other qualifications, you may enroll in the program. Please call us if you have any questions.
We will be holding in-person enrollment meetings, for new participants, throughout the county including: Indio, Menifee, Murrieta, Moreno Valley and other communities as needed or requested. If you participated last year, and received a stipend, you may attend a virtual enrollment meeting. Dates are available on our website’s Calendar of Events.
The QCC Workforce Pathways Stipend Program Qualifications:
- Be 18 years of age
- Work in Riverside County as a paid employee of a child care site/home
- All ECE professionals working in a Child Development program are eligible
- Start working with current employer or be self-employed on or before August 30, 2025
- Work with the same employer for 9 months during the program year
- Participants must provide direct care for at least two (2) children other than their own, for a minimum of 15 hours per week
- Earn less than $80,000.00 gross income (before taxes) per year
- Substitute teachers and aides will qualify if they work a minimum of 60 hours per month
Participants need to be on a pathway towards obtaining or maintaining a Teaching Permit with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing; and/or on a pathway towards a degree in the ECE field.
The 2025-2026 QCC Workforce Pathways Stipend Program includes:
- Stipend for up to 12 units of coursework
- 1–6 units = $200 per unit
- 7-12 units = $250 per unit
- An additional $100 per unit for infant/toddler coursework
- Professional Development stipend of $500
- 30 hours if only completing professional development
- 21 hours if also completing education units
- Additional stipend for completing a degree during the program year
- $1,000 for an AA/AS degree in ECE/ECS
- $2,500 for a BA/BS degree in ECE/ECS
- $200 stipend for obtaining a CD permit for the first time, or upgrading a permit to a higher level
- Reimbursement for
- Textbooks used for courses completed for the stipend
- Child care to attend trainings and coursework for the stipend
- Transportation to attend trainings and coursework in person for the stipend
- Child Development Permits to apply, renew, or upgrade
- Parking for trainings and coursework for the stipend
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- Availability to obtain a Chromebook on loan with basic training to complete virtual courses and trainings
- One on one advisory meetings with all participants to discuss their educational and/or professional development goals
- Assistance in applying, upgrading or renewing a Child Development Permit
- Participants working on an M.A./M.S. with a major or minor in ECE qualify for up to 6 units of coursework at $200 per unit.
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Enrollment Meetings will be in-person for new participants & virtually for returning participants
To learn about the requirements, turning in documents, completing stipend paperwork, and to meet with an advisor
You can contact us by calling 951-778-5003 extension 1
or emailing us at JHaessly@ConsortiumELS.org
