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| Q1 |
Do CARES Plus participants need to have a California Child Development Permit to qualify for a stipend? |
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No. But participants must show proof of having applied for a permit by June 30, 2012. For a list of what will be accepted as proof of application, please refer to the CARES Plus Program Summary posted on the CARES website at www.santaclaracares.org
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| Q2 |
Do current CARES 2.0 participants need to enroll in CARES Plus? |
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Yes. To qualify for CARES Plus, everyone who applies must complete the online CARES Plus enrollment process even if they participated in CARES 2.0. First 5 California requires additional information for CARES Plus; thus, every participant must complete the online enrollment form, which, is posted at www.santaclaracares.org
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| Q3 |
Is an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) acceptable instead of a Social Security Number? |
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No. A participant must submit a Social Security Number to receive a CARES Plus stipend.
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| Q1 |
What is the enrollment period? |
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The early enrollment period is July 8, 2011 through July 31, 2011. The full enrollment period is July 8, 2011 through September 30, 2011.
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| Q2 |
Why are there two deadlines for enrollment? |
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An early enrollment deadline of July 31, 2011 is set for those who are interested in the My Teaching Partner (MTP) statewide pilot. Since the MTP is a 10-month program, participants must enroll in CARES Plus by July 31, 2011 to be considered for selection in the pilot.
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| Q3 |
How do early educators with no computer skills participate in CARES Plus? |
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All CARES Plus participants must have some computer ability. Participants could use county resources such as computer trainings provided in libraries and community organizations to learn how to use a computer.
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| Q4 |
If a participant does not have a valid email account, is it permissible to use someone else’s email? |
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Another person’s email can be used as long as that person is not a CARES Plus participant. CARES participants cannot share email addresses and may not use their center’s email address.
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| Q1 |
What is the CLASS? |
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The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is an observational tool that provides a common lens and language focused on the classroom interactions that boost student learning. For further information on CLASS, please see the Teachstone website at http://www.teachstone.org/about-the-class/
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| Q2 |
Is there a fee for participating in the CLASS training? |
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Extension school units are not accepted for CARES because the units need to be degree-applicable. In most circumstances extension units are not accepted as transfer units by the extension school’s home institution. Extension units will be accepted for CARES if they appear on an official transcript of a college or university that has accepted them as transferable units toward a degree.
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| Q3 |
When may a CARES Plus participant begin the CLASS trainings? |
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The online CLASS trainings will be available beginning in October 2011.
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| Q4 |
If an early educator has taken the Introduction to the CLASS before, would that count for a stipend, or must it be taken again? |
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Everyone must complete the Introduction to the CLASS and Looking at CLASSrooms as part of CARES Plus, even if they have done it before.
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| Q5 |
Are the CLASS trainings available in any language other than English? |
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Yes. The CLASS trainings will be available in Spanish, as well.
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| Q6 |
How does a participant receive the login name and password to complete CLASS? |
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In late September 2011, CARES will send out instructions on how to begin the CLASS training to all participants who have completed the online CARES Plus enrollment.
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| Q7 |
What happens if a participant is selected by First 5 California to complete the pre and post CLASS assessment, but refuses to videotape the classroom? |
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That participant would not be able to participate in CARES Plus, as videotaping is a First 5 California requirement.
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| Q8 |
What happens if a participant is selected for the pre and post CLASS assessment but the employer will not allow videotaping in classrooms? |
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If a participant is selected to complete the pre and post assessment, but the employer will not allow videotape in the classroom, then that participant would not be required to complete the pre and post assessment and may still participate in CARES Plus.
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| Q9 |
Who will be selected for the pre and post assessment? |
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Only lead teachers, master teachers, and family child care directors and/or owners will be selected. Teachers who work only with infants and toddlers will not be selected during the 2011-12 program year.
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| Q10 |
Can a participant do the CLASS online trainings with a group of co-workers at one time? |
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No. Each participant must use the individual login name and password and complete the CLASS trainings on their own.
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| Q1 |
If a participant is taking a summer class that begins on June 28, 2011 and finishes on July 20, 2011, can it be counted towards a CARES Plus stipend? |
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No. Courses must begin after July 1, 2011 and must be completed by June 30, 2012.
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| Q2 |
If a participant is working toward a degree at a college that is not listed in the CARES Plus Program Summary, will that coursework count toward a stipend? |
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Yes. All other CARES Plus requirements must be met and that participant must meet with an E3 staff person to have classes pre-approved. Online courses from an accredited college are also acceptable.
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| Q3 |
If a participant has a master’s degree, a multiple subject credential, and a program director permit but wants to take classes to enhance skills, can these classes count towards a CARES Plus stipend? |
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No. All coursework must apply towards a degree, a California Child Development Permit, or a credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
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| Q4 |
Can a participant receive a CARES Plus stipend for courses that apply toward an early childhood special education credential? |
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Yes. Courses taken toward an early childhood special education credential would count toward a CARES Plus stipend.
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| Q5 |
Do online courses count for the college coursework component? |
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All courses from an accredited college count towards a CARES Plus stipend, as long as the courses apply toward a degree, a California Child Development Permit, or a credential issued by the CTC. Participants should review the college coursework option section on page 4 in the CARES Plus Program Summary. All courses must be pre-approved by a CARES representative. If questions regarding this policy arise, please send them by email santaclaracares@wested.org
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| Q6 |
If less than 6 units are completed, would the participant receive a partial stipend? |
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No. In order to receive a stipend under this component a participant must complete a minimum of 6 semester or 9 quarter units with a grade of “C” or better.
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| Q7 |
Can a participant complete both the additional college coursework component and training component to earn a higher stipend? |
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No. An early educator may only participate in one additional component in addition to the required core component.
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| Q1 |
Is there a fee to participate in the California Department of Education (CDE)-certified trainings? |
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The majority of the trainings are free with materials provided. There may be exceptions when a participant may be asked for a registration fee and/or to purchase training materials.
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| Q2 |
If a participant takes a college course that covers the same content as one of the CDE-approved training areas, can it be applied towards the 21 hours? |
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No. All trainings must be provided by CDE-certified contractors.
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| Q3 |
Must all of the 21 hours be in one of the accepted training areas? Or can a participant do a mix of the approved trainings that add up to 21 hours? |
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A participant may complete a combination of the trainings to meet the 21 hour requirement.
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| Q4 |
If fewer than 21 hours are completed, would a partial stipend be granted? |
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No. A minimum of 21 hours must be completed to qualify for a stipend.
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| Q5 |
May a participant complete both the additional college coursework component and training component to earn a higher stipend? |
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No. A participant may only participate in one additional component in addition to the required core component.
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| Q6 |
Will the training hours completed for CARES Plus count towards a professional growth hours for renewing a California Child Development Permit? |
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Only a professional growth advisor can determine if a participant can receive professional growth hours for an activity. Learn more about the professional growth system by reading the Professional Growth Manual posted at: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/manualshandbooks/PG_manual_ChildDev.pdf
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| Q1 |
What is MTP? |
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First 5 California has developed a 10-month pilot quality improvement program--My Teaching Partner (MTP)--as part of its CARES Plus program. The MTP is a 10-month, intensive, ongoing coaching program that has been shown to boost effective classroom and program interactions and improve child outcomes. Link to MTP flyer in English at http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/pdf/help/CaresPlus/MK_MTP_Intro_Packet.pdf or in Spanish at
http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/pdf/help/CaresPlus/PK_MTP_OnePager%20Spanish.pdf
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| Q2 |
What are the benefits of participating in MTP? |
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MTP is an exciting pilot program that has shown to be very successful in improving classroom practice and child outcomes. Only 500 people in the state will be invited to participate in this project. Those selected will receive 10 months of ongoing free consultation and coaching that is directly related to their daily practice. If invited, participants would take the core component and the MTP activity, which would earn a total stipend of $1,500.
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| Q3 |
What would a participant do if selected for the MTP, but the majority of the classroom parents do not want their children videotaped? |
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The MTP coach would work with the participant to find the best strategy to videotape in the classroom and adhere to the parents’ requests.
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| Q4 |
If a participant is selected to participate in MTP but the center director will not allow videotaping, does this mean that the early educator cannot participate? |
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If a center or organization does not allow videotaping, through no fault or control of the individual CARES Plus participant, that participant would no longer be eligible for MTP or the CLASS observation sample, but would still be able to participate in the CARES Plus program.
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| Q5 |
If a participant is selected to participate in MTP and the director agrees to the videotaping, but the center is part of a school district that will not allow it, what would happen? |
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If a center or organization does not allow videotaping, through no fault or control of the individual CARES Plus participant, that participant would no longer be eligible for MTP or the CLASS observation sample, but would still be able to participate in the CARES Plus program.
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| Q6 |
Who will be selected for the MTP pilot program? |
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Only lead teachers, master teachers, and family child care directors/owners will be selected. Teachers who work only with infants and toddlers will not be selected during the 2011-12 program year.
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| Q7 |
What is the deadline for enrolling for the MTP pilot program? |
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Participants must enroll in CARES Plus by July 31, 2011 to be considered for selection in the MTP pilot program.
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| Q1 |
If an early educator is a toddler teacher, but next year would be a preschool teacher, would that participant follow the preschool requirements this year? |
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No. Participants must follow the infant-toddler (0-3 years) requirements this year and the preschool requirements next year.
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| Q2 |
Why do participants working only with the infant-toddler age group (0-3 years) have only two options? |
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The core component Looking at CLASSrooms is not available for infant-toddler teachers during the first year of CARES Plus. Since infant-toddler teachers will not be completing this requirement, they must complete either the college coursework component or the training component.
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| Q3 |
Will the core component Looking at CLASSrooms for infant-toddler teachers be available next year? |
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Yes. Looking at CLASSrooms for infant-toddlers will be available in the second year of CARES Plus.
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| Q4 |
Are teachers who work only with infants and toddlers eligible for the My Teaching Partner (MTP) pilot? |
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Teachers who work only with infants and toddlers will not be selected for MTP during the 2011-12 program year.
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| Q1 |
Why doesn’t the E3 Institute deduct income tax from the CARES Plus stipend checks? |
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The WestEd E3 Institute cannot withhold taxes for people who are not employed by the WestEd E3 Institute.
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| Q2 |
Is the CARES Plus stipend check considered taxable income? |
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Yes. The stipend check is considered taxable income and should be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
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| Q3 |
How should CARES Plus stipend recipients claim the stipends on their tax returns? |
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In February 2013, a 1099 form will be sent to the home address of each CARES Plus recipient who was awarded a stipend of $600 or more. It is the responsibility of the CARES Plus recipient to notify the WestEd E3 Institute of any change of address to ensure that all proper information reaches the CARES Plus recipient in a timely manner. Participants should consult with their tax preparer for advice on how to claim this income.
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| Q4 |
Why are CARES Plus participants required to complete a W-9 form? |
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A W-9 form is required from all CARES 2.0 participants for verification of their Social Security numbers. For a copy of this form, click on this link or copy and paste it into an internet browser: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf
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| Q5 |
Can a CARES Plus participant use a Federal I.D. number instead of a Social Security number? |
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No. A Federal I.D. number will not be accepted. A participant must submit a Social Security Number to receive a CARES Plus stipend.
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