1. What are the eligibility requirements to participate in AEEC and the supportive benefits?

Participants in AEEC must be women who identify as African American and/or Latina:

1) Who meets one of the following residency requirements:

• Lives in Ward 7 or Ward 8 in the District of Columbia (DC)

  OR

• Lives anywhere in the DC and works in an early learning setting in Ward 7 or Ward 8

 AND

2) Are admitted or enrolled students in one of the following AEEC educational programs:

• The Child Development Associate (CDA) program at American University

• An associate degree in early childhood education (ECE) from Trinity Washington University (Trinity)

• A bachelor’s degree in elementary education from American University OR in ECE from Trinity

For more questions regarding eligibility, please contact us at info@AdvancingDC.com.

2. Is there a minimum age?

No, there is no minimum age.

American University allows seniors in high school and those actively working towards the General Educational Development (GED) Test to enroll in the CDA program while completing their high school diploma or GED program. Completion of the high school diploma, GED (or equivalent) is required for the application to earn the CDA credential with the Council for Professional Recognition.

3. Does AEEC consider those that may have partly completed their CDA credential or associate degree?  

Students who begin their CDA education at other institutions are welcome to take courses at American University to supplement their existing CDA education experience. An American University advisor will work with the student to determine which courses they still need to fulfill the education experience required by the Council for Professional Recognition. Students who complete coursework at American University receive a transcript outlining the courses completed at the university.

For the associate degree program at Trinity Washington University, students may transfer up to 20 credits from an appropriately accredited college or university and must earn all remaining credits through coursework at Trinity.

For the bachelor's degree programs, Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS), students transferring to Trinity in or after Fall 2002 from a bachelor's degree program at another appropriately accredited college or university,* may transfer up to 75 credits from an appropriately accredited college or university. BA or BS degree students must earn a minimum of 45 of their final 60 credits through coursework at Trinity, excluding credits for experiential learning. Students who transferred to Trinity before Fall 2002 from a bachelor's degree program at another appropriately accredited college or university, must earn a minimum of 32 credits through coursework at Trinity, excluding credits for experiential learning.

 *Note: Appropriately accredited colleges, universities, or institutions of higher learning are accredited by institutional or programmatic accrediting agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Commission on Higher Education. Accrediting agencies include but are not limited to regional accreditors.

4. Is coursework offered in Spanish?

At this time, coursework is not offered in Spanish.

However, we are investigating ways to improve AEEC. Please sign up for the newsletter to receive AEEC program updates.

5. Are there any GPA or other requirements to keep my scholarship dollars?

For the CDA program at American University, there are no GPA requirements.

 However, for the degree programs at American and Trinity, there may be GPA or other requirements. Please contact us at info@AdvancingDC.com for more information.

6. Will my data be shared in any way? Will information about my experience in the program be requested so I can share whether and how the program has benefited me?

The AEEC academic partner organizations, American University and Trinity Washington University, and support service partners, Martha’s Table (also serves as AEEC’s lead agency) and LIFT-DC, coordinate with each other to serve AEEC participants. To do this, we need to share a participant’s contact information or other relevant information about the participant’s program of study or the participant’s needs (such as whether the participant has asked for help with groceries, financial coaching, or other support). Under strict policies, we only share the information that a partner needs to deliver services and support to a participant. We take participant privacy and confidentiality seriously, and we will never share your information with entities outside of AEEC. 

To understand whether AEEC participants benefited from the program, AEEC participants have the opportunity to participate in an evaluation study, conducted by the Urban Institute as part of AEEC’s program monitoring and assessment process. When a participant enters the AEEC program, they are provided the opportunity to give consent to whether they want to be in the evaluation study and share their information with the Urban Institute. Participation in the study is not required to receive AEEC services and benefits.

7. What support services are provided by AEEC?

Participants of AEEC are eligible to receive the following support services and benefits:

a)    Scholarships and other financial assistance towards tuition, books, credential exam fees, and other fees (depending on the program of study and institution)

b)    Financial coaching and skill-building workshops

c)    Tax-free stipends for participating in the financial coaching program

d)    Access to practicum sites at Martha’s Table’s early childhood education centers for hands-on, student teaching experience

e)    Mentorship and childcare and transportation vouchers for students in the practicum at Martha’s Table

f)     Healthy groceries, diapers, clothing, and other household goods at no cost

g)    Health/wellness activities and access to mental health specialists

h)    Free use of laptops for coursework and professional development

i)     Employment assistance and career development opportunities

See more information on the Education Programs and Support Services pages. Some of these services are first come, first served based on availability, or have additional eligibility requirements.

AEEC participants may also access existing programs/services offered by each participating partner organization.

8. Can I receive support services from AEEC if I am no longer employed?

AEEC participants can continue to receive support services if their employment status changes.

However, AEEC participants should notify us immediately at info@AdvancingDC.com if they live in the District of Columbia but no longer work in an early learning setting in Ward 7 or Ward.

All AEEC participants are strongly encouraged to contact us at info@AdvancingDC.com if they are in need of financial or employment assistance.

9. Do you have to be a parent to access LIFT-DC services?

No, AEEC participants do not have to be a parent to access LIFT support services.

LIFT-DC is a nonprofit with 20 years of experience helping individuals and families improve their finances. Under their normal requirements, being a parent is necessary to access their service. As an AEEC partner, this requirement is waived for AEEC participants.

10. What can I do with a CDA credential or degree in early childhood education?

There are many career opportunities in early childhood education. In December 2016, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) published updated childcare licensing regulations that increased the education requirements for the early childhood workforce in the District. As a result, there is an increased demand for qualified professionals in early childhood education.

Under the new education requirements, as of December 2, 2023:

• Persons with a CDA credential can work as a Home Caregiver or an Associate Home Caregiver (also referred to as Childcare Workers), or as an Assistant Teacher

• Those with an associate degree can work as an Assistant Teacher or Teacher

According to the DC government’s Dept. of Employment Services, Teaching Assistants and Preschool Teachers are on the top 50 list of high-demand occupations in DC that require less than a bachelor’s degree (2020-2030).

Becoming a Center Director is also an opportunity and requires a bachelor's degree.

Click here for more information on the OSSE’s educational requirements for early childhood educators.

Click here for more information on the occupations in early childhood education in DC, including wages, employment growth, job postings, and more.

Early child educators, from the CDA to the bachelor’s degree level, possess valuable knowledge, skills, and experience. As a result, there are tremendous opportunities for career advancement not only in the field of education but also transferrable to industries and occupations in areas of human services, healthcare, government, nonprofits, and even entrepreneurship.

11. Is there funding for graduate degrees?

Unfortunately, at this time, funding is not available for graduate degrees under AEEC.