CARES 2.0 eligibility criteria has been updated to respond to different needs and circumstances during this time. Many programs have adjusted their services to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. In an effort to stay true to the original intent of the stipend, which is compensating and retaining teachers, the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) hopes these temporary updates will continue to support and value early educators working directly with young children.
To be considered eligible for the Spring 2021 CARES 2.0 stipend you must be employed by an eligible Early Learning Scholarship (ELS) or Preschool for All (PFA) program that is currently operational.
- For returning applicants:
You will be approved for the Spring 2021 stipend as long as your employment is being maintained by an eligible program and your employer can verify that you will be returning to the classroom when it is safe to do so. This includes educators who are currently being furloughed, on leave, or being utilized in a different capacity due to ratio limitations.
- For new applicants
You must be working with children (virtually or in-person) for at least 20 hours a week and will need to submit a W-9 form for payment.
A list of eligible ELS or PFA programs are found here.
Check out OECE's website for step-by-step instructions on how to apply, a W-9 guide form, and the latest about the stipend process. This information is available in English, Spanish and Chinese.
More details will be added to the Children's Online Help Center once payments begin to be issued.
WHAT IS CARES 2.0?
The Compensation and Retention Early Educator Stipend (CARES 2.0) was created in partnership with First 5 San Francisco to support early educators in San Francisco.
The Office of Early Care and Education is set to distribute $30 million between 2019-2021 to educators employed at city-funded licensed family child care and center-based programs in San Francisco. The first distribution took place in the Fall of 2019 and educators can now apply for the fourth distribution.
A series of community roundtables and workgroup sessions with early educators and community stakeholders helped identify eligibility criteria and guidelines for CARES 2.0, ensuring that:
- Stipends are distributed twice a year
- Equal stipend amounts are awarded to all recipients
- Eligible educators work directly with children for at least 20 hours a week
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