2023-24 Early Educator Wage Enhancement
The City of New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Youth and Families has committed $2.4M to improve the retention and recruitment of early childhood educators across the city by providing wage enhancements. Agenda for Children will distribute these funds to eligible early childhood educators employed in Type III early learning programs in Orleans Parish throughout the 2023-24 program year.
How much are teachers eligible to receive?
Teachers are eligible to receive $750 every three months between December 2023 and June 2024 upon meeting requirements, for a total of up to $2,250.
Note: This is a wage enhancement program. Teachers are required to receive this funds in addition to their regularly earned pay. These payments are to be considered bonuses.
Who is eligible for the wage enhancement?
Eligibility requirements fall under two tiers: 1) Providers who are eligible to apply on behalf of their teachers, and 2) educator eligibility requirements. All eligibility requirements must be met in order for teachers to receive payments. Read below for all of the requirements.
1 ) Provider Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a licensed Type III early learning program
- Operate in Orleans Parish
- Be currently open and operating with enrolled students
- Be able to submit all required documentation (see below)
2) Educator Eligibility Requirements:
- Be employed as an early childhood educator (lead teacher, assistant teacher, teacher aide, or floater) at a Type III early learning center located in Orleans Parish
- Work in an infant, toddler, three-year-old, or four-year-old classroom
- Receive payment through their employer’s payroll with state and federal taxes withheld from their paycheck
- Work an average of 30 hours per week during each of the three consecutive months listed in the designated three-month period (verified through payment documentation
Employment Wage Enhancement Periods:
Eligible early educators have the potential to receive receive three rounds of wage enhancements. See the grid below to see documentation upload deadlines, and expected payment distribution dates.
| Employment Period | Proof of Employment Due | Wage Enhancement Payment Date | Proof of Payment Due to Agenda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher must be employed at least 30 hours per week in each of the three months for any given period. | Documentation of proof of payment for 30 hours per week per teacher for each month in the employment period due. | Expected date of payment to site. | Proof of wage enhancement payment to teachers due. |
| September - November 2023 | December 1, 2023 | December 18, 2023 - $750 | January 12, 2024 |
| December 2023 - February 2024 | March 1, 2023 | March 18, 2024 - $750 | April 5, 2024 |
| March - May 2024 | June 1, 2023 | June 17, 2024 - $750 | July 5, 2024 |
For each month within the three employment periods, only one proof of payment verifying 30 hours per week per teacher is required (ex. If you pay teachers every week or every two weeks, you would only need to provide one proof of payment for that month). Sites will receive a lump sum payment for eligible teachers and must distribute the wage enhancement to teachers and provide proof of payment for each window. Note: teachers are only eligible for the wage enhancement if they are employed for at least 30 hours per week for each of the three months in the employment period.
For example, if a teacher was working an average of 30 hours per week in September, October, and November, they are eligible to receive one payment of $750.
How do Type III Providers apply?
Directors of Type III early learning programs will enroll eligible teachers via a special portal in the CLASS Scheduler that they will receive via email before the end of September.
What documentation will I need for the application?
- Virtually signed attestation agreeing to the terms of participation
- Submit monthly documentation outlined below via a special link in the NOEEN Scheduler
- Submit initial proof of identification for each teacher (one of the following):
- State Driver License
- U.S. Passport
- Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card
- Employment Authorization Document Card
- Submit proof of payment for at least 30 hours per week for each month of the verification window for each teacher (this can be a single document such as a QuickBooks or accounting software report, or individual pay stubs)
- Submit proof of wage enhancement payment to teachers within two weeks of receiving funds from Agenda for Children, to include:
- Employee’s name
- Date of payment
- Total payment
- Payment method (can include canceled checks or accounting software reports as proof of payment)