Is the Wage Program ending?
The program will officially end on September 1, 2024.
I am not on the Wage Supplement program. Can I still apply?
We will be accepting new Initial Applications through August 30th. You must meet the program requirements and be in an eligible position to be approved. A list of requirements are located in the "Eligibility" tab. For directions on how to apply online or to download a paper application, please click on the "How to Apply" tab.
All applications require submission of supporting documents: Initial Employment Verification form and most recent pay stub. Owners are only required to submit an Initial Employment Verification form. If your facility does not provide pay stubs, please email us at stipendandwage@ou.edu. All forms are located in the "Forms" tab. Documents can be submitted via email to stipendandwage@ou.edu or faxed to us at 405-799-7634.
If you have already submitted your Initial Application and supporting documents (Initial Employment Verification form and pay stub) before this date, it will be processed according to the usual business timelines.
How will I be contacted regarding my application?
We will contact you through the email address associated with your OK Registry account. You may also check for updates on the Notes section in your OK Registry account. Please ensure that you open and read any emails from us. They will contain deadlines, review questions, and if any additional information is needed.
If your application is approved and you do not have an account set up for payment with OU Financial Services, you will be asked to submit an Individual Supplier Registration form in your approval email. Please ensure that the form is submitted by the deadline given or you will not receive your Wage Supplement payment.
All participants with an August commitment period will receive an automated reminder email on August 8th to submit documents for review and approval before your check request can be made.
All documents must be submitted to us by the given deadlines. We will be unable to make any exceptions to the deadlines given. If you are emailing your documents, you will receive an auto-reply email to let you know that we received your email. You can expect your documents to be received and added to your application within 1-3 business days from the date they were submitted via email or fax. Please allow the full 3 business days (not counting weekends and office closures) for the note to be added to your Registry account. You will receive an email once your documents are received by a member of our staff and added to your application.
Can I submit my supporting documents in August for my commitment period that ends in September, October, November, December?
Supporting documents (Initial Employment Verification form and pay stub) cannot be accepted in August for later commitment periods. A requirement for the program is that a 6 month commitment period is completed. Submitting documents early will result in a denial due to not meeting that requirement.
My commitment period is in September, October, November, or December. Will I still get a Wage Supplement payment?
The program will officially end on September 1, 2024. Consequently, we will no longer have program funding for any commitment periods after August 2024. If you have a commitment period later in the year, you will not receive any further Wage Supplement payments.
I have a summer commitment period but work in a facility that closes for summer break, will I still get a Wage Supplement payment?
Commitment periods are contingent on time spent with children in the classrooms. Participants that work in facilities that have a summer break must make up their break time to complete their commitment period. If you have a summer commitment period, this will usually result in your commitment period end date changing to October or later. We will no longer have program funding for any commitment periods after August 2024. If your commitment period is changed to make up your summer break to later in the year, you will not receive any further Wage Supplement payments.
I have leave time longer than two weeks consecutively, will I still get a Wage Supplement payment?
Commitment periods are contingent on time spent with children in the classrooms. If you have leave time longer than two weeks, you must make up your leave time to complete your commitment period. This will result in your commitment period end date changing. We will no longer have program funding for any commitment periods after August 2024. If your commitment period is changed to make up your leave time to later in the year, you will not receive any further Wage Supplement payments.
I have depended on these supplements as a source of additional income. What other resources are available? Will the program return?
We understand the value this program has provided and the impact of its conclusion. The decision to end the program was made by the leadership at Oklahoma Human Services, and as of now, there are no announcements regarding the program’s return.
While the program is ending, the Certificate of Achievement and Stipend program will remain active. You can find out more information about that program on our website at www.cecpd.org, under Provider Programs.
What happens if I don’t receive my check? Will I still get a replacement?
Please make sure that we have the most current address for you. Updating your address in your Registry account does not update it with OU Financial Services. If you have moved since your last payment, please email stipendandwage@ou.edu with your full name, new address, and last 4 digits of your Social Security Number so that we can expedite the address change process. The closure will not impact disbursements that are already in process.
I have a question on my Wage Supplement application, who do I contact?
If you have any further questions regarding your Wage Supplement application, we ask that you please review the program FAQ on our website. If you need further assistance, please email us at stipendandwage@ou.edu for the quickest reply.
I have questions regarding the closure in general or want to discuss my concerns, who do I contact?
For any questions or to discuss concerns regarding the closure, please contact Child Care Services (CCS) by email at childcare.occs@okdhs.org or call (405) 522-5050.
Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement provides professional development and longevity salary supplements to child care program personnel, directors and family child care home providers working with young children in quality licensed programs. The program is designed to promote professional development, education and longevity by rewarding ongoing learning and strong stable relationships provided to children with continuity of care through a high-quality responsive workforce. The Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement program is offered statewide with funding provided by Oklahoma Human Services, Division of Child Care Services.
A wage supplement under the Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program is a wage supplement that is paid directly to the qualifying early care and education professional and can be spent as he/she chooses.
A six-month commitment period is established once Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program staff approves the initial application. Commitment periods run mid-month to mid-month (ex: January 15 to July 14).
Participants may be eligible for up to $2,200 annually, depending on educational level achieved.
Using either scale, the amount of the supplement increases as the level of education increases.
Note: All degree(s) and credit hours must be earned at a regionally accredited college or university.
If an Assistant Director works consistently 30 hours per week in the classroom as a Teacher, he/she will be awarded on the teacher scale. If the hours are spent in administrative duties, he/she will be awarded on the director scale.
No. You can only be on one scale.
No. We do not require the director to complete the Initial Employment Verification form. You will be required to submit a copy of your most recent pay stub to verify your employment.
Family Child Care Homes, Owner/Directors, and Owner/Teachers are not required to submit pay documentation as long as we are able to verify they are an Owner.
No. The program does not require subsidy. Your facility must be 2 Star or higher to qualify.
Yes. Your facility must have a 2 Star, 3 Star, 4 Star, or 5 Star rating.
All payments are contingent upon funding availability. Annual amounts are divided into two supplements. Directors, Teachers, and Family Child Care Home Providers who meet the requirements for Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program and remain eligible will receive a supplement check four (4) to six (6) weeks after the end of each six-month commitment period.
Once initially approved, participants who remain in the same early care and education facility and continue to meet requirements do not need to reapply to receive future supplements. Participants will receive an email requesting a current paystub and an Initial Employment Verification form the day after your commitment period ends. Wage Supplement staff will verify that participants were eligible in their facility during the entire commitment period.
Once your application and documents (Initial Employment Verification form and pay stub) have been received, your application will be placed in Counselor Review. A Wage Supplement Counselor will review the application and inform you by email if you are approved, denied, or if additional information is needed. If approved, your Counselor will set your commitment period cycle. You will be eligible for your Wage Supplement payment after the end of your determined commitment period cycle.
Please note: It can take up to 30 business days to process applications.
Participants in the Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program may increase their supplement amounts by gaining more education and moving to a higher level on the Professional Development Ladder (PDL) or the Oklahoma Director’s Credential (ODC).
The Scholars for Excellence in Child Care program offers scholarships to child care professionals who want to earn credentials or degrees in early childhood education or child development. Click here to learn more.
The six-month employment in a licensed facility is verified when a participant applies to the program and sends a copy of their most recent paystub and an initial employment verification form.
You must have worked a continual six months immediately before your application and be currently working in that facility when we review your application for approval. If you are not, you will need to be employed for six months at your new facility before you can re-apply.
If you leave your facility before your commitment period ends, you will not be eligible to receive your wage supplement. You can re-apply to the program when you have worked a continual six-months at an eligible child care facility.
Yes. The wage supplement is income; therefore, participants on the Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program will receive an IRS-1099 form at the end of the year. For this reason, a current Participant Supplier Registration (PSR) form must be on file before a payment can be issued.
Follow the steps below so that we can process your ISR form as quickly as possible
- Supplier Information - Write your name, SSN, and address you want your check mailed to.
- Type of Payee - Participant has been pre-selected for you.
- Question 1: Are you related to a current OU or OUHSC Employee? Is yes, you must provide a name and relationship.
- Question 2: If you answer yes, you must provide a retirement or termination date.
- Direct Deposit: If you select yes that you would like to sign up for direct deposit, you must provide an email address.
- Residency Status: Please select only ONE Residency Status. Physically sign and currently date the form.
Mail, email or fax your completed ISR form to:
CECPD
Attn: Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program
1801 N. Moore Avenue
Moore, OK 73160
Email: stipendandwage@ou.edu
Fax: 405-799-7634
If you were on leave longer than two weeks in the past six months (including time off for your facility's summer break), you would be required to make up that time. You must be employed a continual six months in an eligible facility before the date of application or the end of your commitment period.
The program will continue as long as funding is available.
Yes. If you have ever been suspended from the Oklahoma Registry, you may be eligible to apply. Please see the Fraud Policy for information.
An email from vendor.eft@omes.ok.gov will be sent out quarterly to anyone not already enrolled to be paid electronically. The subject will be “State of Oklahoma Vendor Banking Registration”. This email contains the steps to set up Direct Deposit for your Stipend check. You must follow the required steps and submit the “Vendor EFT Enrollment Request Form 2016” to your bank for processing. This form is not submitted to CECPD. If you do not sign up, a paper check will be mailed to you.
Yes, most information can be shared with your Employer. The exception to this is anything payment related. We will not share payment related information with anyone besides the participant.
Fraud is defined as an intentional misrepresentation of information to gain an unfair advantage over an individual or system. Examples of fraud within the Certificate of Achievement and Stipend Program and Wage Supplement Program include, but are not limited to:
- Misleading or inaccurate documentation
- Altered pay documentation
- Employment deception
Detecting Fraud
The Oklahoma Professional Development Registry (OPDR) has mechanisms in place to aid in detecting fraudulent reports of experience working in a licensed childcare facility and positions held while in a facility that might be needed to meet criteria.
- Our staff is regularly updated on the format of supporting documentation used in processing applications.
- Participants enter their place of employment, position held, and amount of time worked in a licensed facility into one database that is used by several programs. Employment dates and positions held are “verified” and documented annually by the facility administration.
Reporting Fraud
The OPDR staff are obligated to report any suspicion of fraudulent practices within the system. The suspicion of fraud should be documented and kept in the participant’s file and immediately brought to the attention of the Project Director.
OPDR staff researches the suspected fraudulent information to determine if the information/document is indeed fraudulent.
- If fraud is still suspected and no verification from other sources can verify the document, the staff makes detailed notes of the findings in the participant’s online account.
- Participant is issued a letter requesting proof of the authenticity of the documentation received. This is handled on a case-by-case basis as to what is needed to prove this authenticity.
- Participant has two weeks from the date of the letter to submit a formal appeal, which would need to include supporting documentation.
- If an appeal is submitted and found that fraud was not committed, OPDR staff continues with the processing of any current Wage or Stipend applications, and no action is taken.
- If an appeal is submitted and we determine that fraud was committed, the Project Director informs the participant (via mail) of the finding and will uphold the corrective action for the fraud committed.
- If no appeal is submitted within the allowed timeline with the necessary supporting documentation, we will proceed with corrective action for the fraud committed.
Corrective Action
If fraud is confirmed, or an appeal is not submitted within the allowed timeline, then the participant is notified by email of suspension from the Registry for a total of 90 days from the suspension date (letter issued by the Oklahoma Registry’s Project Director). In addition, the participant will not be eligible to receive payments from the Oklahoma Registry Certificate of Achievement Stipend Program or the Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program for 1 year from the suspension date.
If suspended, the participant will also adhere to the following guidelines.
- If the participant has an active ODC or PDL at the time of suspension, the current credential is revoked. The OPDR requests the return and/or destruction of the revoked credential.
- The participant may only use OPDR-approved coursework to meet ODC or PDL criteria for as long as they participate in the OPDR.
Participants that are suspended from the Registry may also be subject to disciplinary action from The OPDR’s Professional Development Approval System (PDAS). This action can include but is not limited to ineligibility to participate in the training approval process, educator services, or other voluntary programs now or in the future.
If subsequent suspensions occur, the amount of time the participant is ineligible will be extended. See below.
1st-time suspension occurs - ineligible for the Oklahoma Registry Certificate of Achievement Stipend Program and the Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program for 1 year from the suspension date.
2nd-time suspension occurs - ineligible for the Oklahoma Registry Certificate of Achievement Stipend Program and the Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program for 2 years from the suspension date.
3rd-time suspension occurs - ineligible for the Oklahoma Registry Certificate of Achievement Stipend Program and the Oklahoma Child Care Wage Supplement Program for 5 years from the suspension date.
Documentation
Participants suspended from the Registry will show a status of “Suspended” along with detailed notes as to timelines, requested documentation, and any correspondence with the participant.
OPDR staff contacts CECPD’s Director, Stipend and Wage Staff, PDAS Administration, DHS Professional Development Administrator, QRIS Administration, and DHS Child Care Licensing Administration via e-mail that includes:
- The participant’s full name, and place of employment, including the K8 number of the facility and the position held at the facility.
- The participant’s suspension dates.
- The length of time the participant is not eligible to receive a stipend from the Certificate of Achievement and Stipend program and the Wage Supplement program.
- The participant is only allowed to use OPDR-approved coursework to meet ODC or PDL criteria in the future.
- A copy of the suspension letter that was sent to the participant.
Participants that feel that they should qualify for the program or feel that they were awarded on the wrong level, should notify the Project Lead for the Stipend and Wage Supplement Programs in writing within 30 days of receiving denial letter for a formal grievance. Participants are entitled to appeal decisions made by the OPDR administrators up to two times.
The following is the process that the Project Lead will follow during a grievance:
Project Lead will do a full audit of the file.
Appeal #1:
- Appeals must be received within 30 days from the date of the denial letter.
- Appeals must be submitted in writing and addressed to the Project Lead, Stipend and Wage Supplement Programs.
- Appeals can be submitted via mail, fax or e-mail.
- Within 10 days of the receipt of Appeal #1, the participant can expect a reply, in writing, from the program administrator reflecting the decision of Appeal #1.
Appeal #2
- Appeal #2 should be received within 14 days from the date of Appeal #1’s decision.
- Appeal #2 must be submitted in writing and addressed to the Project Director, Stipend and Wage Supplement Programs.
- Appeal #2 can be submitted via mail, fax or e-mail.
- Within 10 days of the receipt of Appeal #2, the participant can expect a reply, in writing, from the Project Director reflecting a decision.
- Decision from the Project Director on Appeal #2 is final.