Income Guidelines

What is the Educational Incentive Program (EIP)/Who is Eligible?

The Educational Incentive Program (EIP) is a scholarship program designed to assist child care providers to obtain the training and education they need to provide quality care to children. Child care providers must be caring for children in a facility regulated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services or the New York City Department of Health.

Providers may be eligible to receive 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of individual course costs up to a maximum of $2,000 per EIP Year. Please refer to the income chart available here.

Can I apply for the EIP scholarship?

You can apply if you are currently caring for children as a:

• registered family child care provider

• licensed group family child care provider or assistant

• director or child care classroom staff in a registered school-age program

• director or child care classroom staff in a licensed child care center or Head Start. (In New York City, staff who hold a permanent New York State teaching certificate are not eligible)

• director or child care classroom staff employed by the New York State Unified Court System.
  -OR-

• direct supervisor of any of the above child care staff.

Am I eligible for an EIP scholarship?

Eligibility is based on your employment status, level of income and course or training you choose.

Employment
You must be a US citizen, Permanent Resident, or Resident Alien authorized to work in the US and you must be currently caring for children as part of the adult/child ratio requirement in a program licensed or registered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services or the New York City Department of Health. Documentation of employment status is required with each application.

Nannies, adjunct child care staff, consultants and staff not involved in the adult/child ratio are not eligible for a scholarship.

Income
Your federal adjusted gross income and family size must fall within the EIP Income Chart. EIP reserves the right to seek additional verification that the tax forms submitted are accurate and authentic.

Education/Training Course
Training or coursework must clearly reflect one or more of the subject areas that are required by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services regulations. All classes must have course start dates in the applicable calendar year and, non credit classes must also end in the same applicable year. The maximum amount awarded for all non-college credit bearing courses, workshops and classes is $25 per training hour.

EIP scholarships will continue to be awarded until funding is depleted.

Are all courses and training eligible for EIP?

Training or coursework must clearly reflect one or more of the following subject areas that are listed in the New York State law and regulations:

• Principles of childhood development

• Nutrition and health needs of infants and children

• Child day care program development

• Business record maintenance and management

• Safety and security procedures

• Child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention

• Statutes and regulations pertaining to child day care 

• Statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment

• Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome