Graduate Study

In the RSG pilot program Directors enroll as a cohort in graduate courses with tuition fully funded through the First Tennessee Scholarship for Excellence in Childcare Leadership. The funding provides for tuition, books and all fees. The designed program of study in early childhood education includes leadership, management, quality enhancement and systemic change.

Mentoring

A panel of directors of accredited centers in Shelby County provides mentoring and support to the RSG program and to the RSG directors. Accredited center directors share their time expertise regarding the self-study process and specialized areas of working with young children and their families.

Professional Development Incentives

Childcare teachers of RSG participating centers receive bonuses if they successfully complete college/university coursework.

Quality Childcare Resource Network

The network is established to facilitate resources, volunteerism and in-kind donations from local businesses to individual childcare centers.

Directors’ Networking

Besides participating in the courses, directors have opportunities to share concerns and information. One such forum is the directors’ networking meetings where they explore solutions to childcare issues such as providing health benefits for staff and establishing a teacher substitute pool.

Technical Assistance

Participants receive on-site technical assistance for accreditation. Consultants provide support through a self-study process that examines all aspects of the childcare center’s operations.