BA/MA Bonus Program:

• Frequently Ask Questions
• Application Guidelines
• Application
• Continuing Eligibility Form

This program is an additional bonus for qualifying early childhood educators with BA and/or MA degrees working at approved Preschool For All (PFA) sites. PFA staff from Assistant Teacher through Site Supervisor may be eligible for this additional bonus. Read the 2009-2010 application guidelines below for more information.

2009-2010 Application Guidelines

Bonus: Qualifying Early Childhood Educators with BA and/or MA degrees working at approved Preschool For All (PFA) or Title 5 funded sites can receive $1,000 per quarter up to $4,000 annually. Due to the number of applicants this year, the maximum bonus will likely be $3,700. We will send notification of the final award amount with the fourth quarter applications.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the BA/MA Bonus in 2009-2010, you must meet all of the following guidelines:

• Hold a BA or MA in ECE/CDEV or a BA or MA in any field plus 24 ECE units or a Teacher Permit or higher. (Foreign degrees must be evaluated by an approved evaluation agency. Call SF CARES for a list of approved agencies.)
• Work in San Francisco at First 5 San Francisco-approved PFA site as an Assistant, Associate, Teacher, Lead Teacher, Site Supervisor, FCC Owner or FCC Assistant, serving infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers.
• Start working on or before one of the deadlines below, work an average of 15 hours per week providing direct instruction to children and work continuously through the end of each quarter. In order for those 15 hours to count toward your eligibility, your presence in the classroom during this period must count toward your program's compliance with minimum adult-child ratios set by laws, regulations, or other requirements governing your program.
• If you received any quarter of the BA/MA Bonus in 2008-2009 you only need to submit a continuing eligibility form by the application deadlines listed below.

The following Employment Exceptions will apply:

• 9 month employees-If your employment ends before June 30 due to a break in your school session, you can still qualify for that quarter if you work through the last week of the school session.
• Maternity leave and work related disability-Maternity leave and work related disability will be considered as long as it is not longer than three months and as long as you return to the same employer or another approved PFA or Title 5 funded site once your leave ends.

Deadlines: To get started you must apply through SF CARES. To see when your eligibility begins, refer to the chart below. Start by determining the earliest quarter in which you were working and apply by the application deadline to the right. You only have to apply once. After you are approved, eligibility will remain ongoing as long as you meet all of the above requirements, continue to work a minimum of 15 average hours per week, and work continuously through the end of each quarter at an approved PFA or Title 5 funded site. At the end of each quarter, you will automatically be mailed a bonus request form. You and your employer must sign, confirming your continued employment, and return it to the SF CARES office by the deadline printed on the form. All applicants will be required—one time only—to bring an original social security card to the CARES office for verification in order to receive your bonus check. We will not make or keep copies in your files—we will only visually verify that the information on your card matches your application. Your bonus check will be mailed within 6 weeks from the deadline. If further documentation is needed to determine your eligibility your bonus check may be delayed.

Applications must be mailed or dropped off to the SF CARES address below. Faxes will not be accepted. If you have questions, need an application, or wish to make an appointment call SF CARES at (415) 856-8140.