Program
We recommend making sure you qualify for STEP$ before starting the application process.
Download our most recent application, or give us a call at 919-967-3272, to request one be mailed or emailed to you. When filling out the application, please take your time, write legibly, and complete the entire form. Note that your employer is also responsible for filling out and signing a portion of the application.
Please submit official transcripts to document your degree or an active CDA Credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition. If applying with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, an official transcript or the DCDEE-awarded certificate is accepted. The DCDEE-issued letter may be accepted for Credential Equivalency. Official transcripts are generally printed on special school paper for security purposes and may also feature a stamped school seal or can be emailed from the school. Copied or faxed transcripts cannot be accepted. Workshops and training hours are not acceptable documentation.
Below are our tips to ensure your STEP$® application can be processed.
To be eligible for STEP$, you must work 40 hours per week with children birth through age two. A current pay stub is required with your application that shows your rate of pay at or below $16 per hour and the hours worked. An applicant will not qualify for STEP$ with a pay stub showing fewer than 40 hours per week.
The employment section of the application (page four) must have an answer in every single blank. ALL employment information is vital. Your employer must complete this section. Before submitting your application, be sure that it is complete. STEP$ cannot process your application if it is submitted with unanswered questions.
Please send an official transcript to document your degree unless it is already on file with us. STEP$ cannot get a transcript from the Division of Child Development and Early Education. You may also send an active CDA Credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition. If applying with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, an official transcript or the DCDEE-awarded certificate is accepted. The DCDEE-issued letter may be accepted for Credential Equivalency.
Thank you for your interest in STEP$. When calling or leaving a voicemail, please reference STEP$. You can also send us a message online.
Mail paperwork to:
Early Years
Attn: STEP$
PO Box 901
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Email paperwork to:
stepsinfo@earlyyearsnc.org
