INCENTIVE$ is a statewide salary supplement program designed to encourage early care and education professionals to continue their work in the field and to increase their level of education in order to improve staff retention and the quality of early care and education.

During the early years of development, it is important that young children form and maintain strong attachments to primary caregivers. INCENTIVE$ was designed to reward professionals in early care and education for continuing their work in the field and increasing their levels of education. By supplementing teachers' salaries, this program encourages those who work directly with young children to stay in the field and continue to gain knowledge and refine their skills.

To date in fiscal year 2005:

• 2,453 professionals received $1,087,425 in the first payment period of FY 2005
• Recipients represent more than 1,000 centers and homes in 127 of Georgia's 159 counties
• 49 percent of recipients work in nationally accredited centers
• 27 percent work in Head Start Centers and 5 percent work on United States military bases
• 88 percent of recipients work in centers that participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
• 91 percent of recipients work in child care centers, 8 percent are family child care providers and 1 percent work in group homes
• 86 percent of FY 2005 recipients also participated in FY 2004
• 307 INCENTIVE$ recipients have increased their level of education since 2001
• Payments made since the program's inception in 2001 exceed $5.6 million

For more information call 1.800.939.9694 (toll-free) or 678.822.5199.