The Educational Incentive Program (EIP) is a scholarship program which helps providers pay for training and educational activities with the intent to build provider knowledge, skills and competencies and improve the quality of childcare.
To be eligible for EIP, child care providers must be required to take training and must be caring for children in a program regulated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS) or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH).
Eligibility is based upon the:
- Household income;
- Employment status; and
- Educational activities.
EIP scholarships fund college tuition and mandatory college fees. Training or coursework must clearly reflect one or more of the subject areas that are required by the NYS OCFS. EIP scholarships can also fund assessment fees associated with certain credential or certificate programs. EIP can cover CDA credentialing activities along with college credit, non-credit bearing courses and non-credit bearing credential training.
The maximum annual award amounts as of 2018 are:
- $2,000 towards college courses
- $1,250 towards CDA and all other pre-approved credential training
- 1,100 toward coaching
- $125 classroom and $95 online with face-to-face skills testing component towards CPR/FA
- $700 towards trainings, conferences and workshops
