Participant Agreement

Signal Centers agrees to:

A. Provide wage supplements to eligible early educators as a special initiative to reward teacher education and continuity of care, thereby providing children ages birth to five more stable relationships with better educated teachers.

B. Provide IRS-1099 forms at the end of the year to recipients as mandated by current tax law.

The Child Care WAGE$® Recipient agrees to:

A. Acknowledge that receiving the full annual supplement is contingent upon completion of two six-month periods. An installment will be issued after each period, based on the education level and the work schedule of the recipient over the six-month period completed. No portion of the award will be issued if the participant leaves her/his program prior to completing the entire six-month commitment period. Time out for leave or summer breaks cannot be counted toward the completion of a commitment period. New applicants need to be employed at the time of the employment confirmation. Employment is verified after a commitment period is complete and when funding is available. The time of confirmations may be delayed due to funding issues, but the applicant must still be employed when money is available in order to be eligible.

B. Continue employment in a licensed program for the entire commitment period and notify Child Care WAGE$® TENNESSEE of any changes.

C. Allow her/his employer to release employment information including date of employment, position in center, age level of children in care, current salary or hourly rate (including bonuses received) and the number of hours worked each week.

D. Allow WAGE$® staff to release information about participation, including education, to director and/or owner.

E. Acknowledge that the funding for this project is provided from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The amount allocated by the Tennessee Department of Human Services will determine the amount available for supplements statewide. Payments will depend upon available funding and the recipient's employer is not responsible for providing the supplement should funds no longer be available.

F. Report and pay any personal income taxes due on annual supplements as required by current tax law.

G. Acknowledge that Child Care WAGE$® TENNESSEE reserves the right to adjust commitment periods and policies based on administration and/or fiscal needs.

H. Acknowledge that reimbursement to Child Care WAGE$® TENNESSEE will be required by the recipient should a salary supplement be issued incorrectly for any reason.

I. Acknowledge that falsifying application information or documentation may result in the inability to be a participant on this program and the recipient consents to employer and program funder notification if participation is terminated due to failure to comply with documentation requirements.