14-4-204. Educational development scholarships and continuing education grants.

(a) The department by rule and regulation shall provide educational development scholarships to assist the owners or staff of child caring facilities to attain certificates or degrees in early childhood development or a related field. Payments under this subsection shall be conditioned upon the recipient of the educational development scholarship entering into a contract to work for a child caring facility in this state for a period as provided in subsection (d) of this section after receiving the certificate or degree.

(i) Repealed By Laws 2007, Ch. 156, § 3.

(ii) Repealed By Laws 2007, Ch. 156, § 3.

(b) A recipient of an educational development scholarship pursuant to this section who breaches the contract required by subsection (a) of this section shall repay that portion of funds provided to the recipient pursuant to this article that is for educational developmental expenses accruing during or after the semester in which the recipient breached the contract, together with attorney fees and costs incurred in collection.

(c) The department by rule and regulation shall provide continuing education grants to child caring facilities to assist the owners or staff of those facilities to obtain continuing education training in early childhood development or related topics. Payments under this subsection shall be conditioned on the following:

(i) The recipient of the continuing education training provided through the grant entering into a contract to work for a child caring facility in this state for a period as provided in subsection (d) of this section after receiving the training; and

(ii) An in-cash cost sharing contribution of at least ten percent (10%) from the facility employing the staff member at the time of continuing education training.

(d) The department shall set a formula for duration of contractual commitments under this section through rule and regulation. Commitment duration shall be based on the value of the educational opportunity and shall be commensurate with the magnitude of the grant.

(e) A recipient of a continuing education grant pursuant to this section shall repay all funds provided to the recipient pursuant to the grant, together with attorney fees and costs incurred in collection, if the recipient breaches the contract required by subsection (c) of this section.