A local consortium called SacE3 (Sacramento Consortium Empowering Early Educators) is working to strengthen and expand Sacramento County’s early learning and care workforce. Led by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), the consortium is offering several programs, including one designed to help early learning and care educators obtain or upgrade their Child Development Permit.
Students enrolled in the Los Rios Community College District for the fall 2023 semester can apply to receive SacE3 stipends of $125 per unit for specific early childhood education, English as a Second Language (ESL), or associate degree coursework completed with a grade of “C” or better.
Stipend applications are due by September 1, 2023, for the upcoming semester (fall 2023) and for those who took classes in summer 2023. For questions and more information, contact the Early Learning Department at the Sacramento County Office of Education: sace3@scoe.net or (916) 228-2506.
Requirements
A variety of qualifying courses are available at the four Los Rios campuses (American River College, Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, and Sacramento City College). Students must be early learning and care professionals. They must work at least 15 hours per week teaching children ages birth through five.
Background
By the 2025–26 school year, California will have a Universal Prekindergarten system for all four-year-olds that gives parents maximum choice for providers, programs, and settings. Services will be offered through Head Start programs; community-based centers; family child care homes; public schools; tribal child care and preschool; family, friend, and neighbor care; and expanded learning programs.
SacE3 was created to help address workforce and training needs related to this new system. The consortium includes local school districts, many charter schools, the Los Rios Community College District, and California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), along with the SCOE School of Education and the Fortune School of Education. It offers stipends, professional growth advising, streamlined access to coursework, and professional learning opportunities.