Release Time with T.E.A.C.H. WV

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® WEST VIRGINIA strives to provide the most appropriate accommodations to allow our scholarship recipients to be successful in their college courses. One way that T.E.A.C.H. enables success is by requesting that centers (sponsors) allow their student employees (recipients) release time from work in order to study, take classes, or complete assignments. Results of past surveys have revealed that one of the biggest challenges for center administrators is offering scholarship recipients release time during their regular working hours at their regular rate of pay. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® National Center has offered some creative suggestions for centers that are facing this challenge.

1. Offer release time during rest time at the center, making sure to maintain ratios.

2. Schedule release time when you know that teacher:child ratios will be low (at the beginning or end of the day).

3. Pay recipients for their lunch breaks. But always remember that recipients cannot work over 40 hours per week without overtime pay.

4. Pay them for holidays in which they would normally not receive pay.

5. Add time to their annual or personal leave.

6. Bank release time and give recipients a whole day off before a major test, or even half days off where it is easier to bring in a substitute.

Brainstorm with the recipient to decide what will be the best option for the sponsor and the recipient.

** Always remember to maintian teacher:child ratios**

You can always contact your T.E.A.C.H. state coordinator to discuss release time strategies!!

For more information about T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® WEST VIRGINIA, please visit our website at http://www.wvearlychildhood.org/teach_wv.html or call us at 304-529-7603 Ext 118.