Please read our Overview Booklet (PDF) for detailed information on the WAGE$ program.
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How much will I receive?
Salary supplement amounts are tied to the recipient’s level of education. Awards are issued in two six-month payments. The amount received will reflect the schedule worked during the six-month period; supplements for part-time employees are adjusted based on a 40-hour work week.
What do I have to do to participate in WAGE$ ?
Complete an application and provide proof of (1) current employment in a participating program, (2) current wages, and (3) education earned via a transcript.
Can I participate in T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$?
Yes! The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Iowa Scholarship Program and the Child Care WAGE$® Iowa Salary Supplement Program go hand-in-hand. T.E.A.C.H. is a means to support someone work their way up the WAGE$ scale as they increase their education. Participants in both programs can receive bonuses from T.E.A.C.H. and stipends from WAGE$ simultaneously.
How can I increase the level of the supplement I receive?
WAGE$ participants can increase their supplement amounts by gaining more education. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® program offers scholarships to early care and education professionals who want to earn course credits toward specific early childhood credentials or degrees. Contact T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Iowa (515-331-8000 or teach@iowaaeyc.org) for more information. Participants are encouraged to send WAGE$ an updated transcript after the completion of any formal coursework so staff can determine the highest possible award.
Do I have to pay taxes on the supplement I receive?
Yes, because the salary supplement is income. Participants will receive an IRS-1099 form at the end of the year if they received $600 or more from Iowa AEYC during the calendar year. Recipients are responsible for reporting and paying personal income taxes due.
Will I receive a supplement if I move to another early care and education program?
Checks are sent to participants after each six-month period in the same program. If a participant moves to another eligible program within the six months, no check will be sent to the participant until they have been at the new program for six months consecutively and completed a new WAGE$ application from the new site.
