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training for licensing credit, submit their training plans to ECTC. Staff review the training outline for alignment with the Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and Core Competencies, accuracy of information and length. - Automatically Accepted training: 1. The Early Childhood Training Center maintains a list of education and training providers that provide training which will be automatically accepted by ECTC. These entities include institutions of higher education including Nebraska Extension Services Learning Child team, branches of state government (Nutrition services, DHHS trainings etc) and training sponsored by the Early Learning Connection Partnerships, Planning Region Teams, and Head Start and others. - Independent study: 1. Child Care providers may watch a curated set of training videos, or read professional materials to gain credit. After watching or reading the materials, an in- depth set of questions is answered to promote retention and use of the information accessed. Responses are carefully evaluated for accuracy and clarity. Recommendation #2 Focus on Infants and Toddlers and Their Families: - Support professional development that builds the unique skill set and knowledge base necessary to work with infants and toddlers. 1. See -First Connections, Independent Study, Safe With You, automatically Accepted training, and training approval above.

Effective Date: 10/01/2018

6.1.3 Describe how the framework improves the quality, diversity, stability, and retention of caregivers, teachers, and directors (98.44(a)(7)). Nebraska provides several sources of funding to support T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood ®scholarships. Federal CCDF funds support approximately 90 to 100 TEACH scholars quarterly. State funding supports 25 to 35 TEACH scholars who work in programs participating in Step Up to Quality. Finally, a private funder supports approximately 50 scholars working in initiatives supported by the Buffet Early Childhood Institute programs. TEACH Early Childhood® is an evidence based strategy for increasing the education of child care providers and reducing turn-over in child care settings. TEACH Early Childhood® is an income based program available to low and moderate income providers in early education and care programs. It successfully reaches communities that typically do not pursue higher education. In Nebraska the average hourly wage of a TEACH® scholar is $12.33 and more than 30% of participants are people of color. TEACH® contracts stipulate that at the successful end of every contract, the TEACH Scholar receives either a raise or a bonus. Scholars are required to stay in the same child care program for a period of time after the Nebraska Page 255 of 314