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Early Childhood & Afterschool Professional Recognition Grace Period Bonuses

The Child Development Division and VTAEYC are excited to announce a temporary, time-limited grace period for those who have earned an Early Childhood Level Certificate or a Vermont Afterschool Professional Development Certificate/Credential since 2018 but didn't receive a bonus. Vermont early childhood and afterschool educators can access an Early Childhood/Afterschool Professional Recognition Bonus for each level they achieve on the Northern Lights at CCV Career Ladder and for achieving qualifying credentials. 

The grace period temporarily waives the requirement that early childhood and afterschool educators complete Level Certificate applications and qualifying credentials within two years of completing their education. All other eligibility criteria must be met.

If you have never before applied for an Early Childhood Level Certificate, a Vermont Afterschool Certificate/ Credential, or are eligible to apply for a higher Level, the two-year requirement is also waived. 

Please visit Northern Lights at CCV for the Early Childhood Level Certificate application or contact the Program Improvement Coordinator at Vermont Afterschool for information about the Vermont Afterschool Professional Development Certificate/Credential.

The grace period will extend until July 2024 or this pool of bonus funds has been exhausted; whichever comes first.

Early Childhood/Afterschool Professional Recognition Bonus Grace Period Eligibility

You must:

  • Be employed by a Vermont regulated child care program and have worked in a direct care position with children for the previous six months.
  • Have not already received a bonus for earning the Career Ladder Certificate in this application.
  • Not be on a public school teacher contract or equivalent unless you are a paraeducator.

In addition:

  • Recognition bonuses are available only for the highest level for which you are qualified.
  • If applicable, Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) teacher licensure must be for the first early childhood educator or early childhood special educator endorsement (not provisional or renewal).
     

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Contact Information
Employer Information
Previous Level Certificate Information

VTAEYC must have a signed and dated W-9 form in order to send you a check or issue a direct deposit. At the end of the year, we will send you a 1099 tax form. Here is a link to the form: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf.

Please note, the signature and date box is in the middle of the form. It can be easy to miss.

Please complete and upload the form here.

Application Certification