Enhancing Quality Through Professional Development (EQPD)
Stokes Partnership for Children’s Enhancing Quality through Professional Development (EQPD) program provides financial incentives to eligible early childhood professionals pursuing additional education and professional achievements in early childhood education.
Through funding from North Carolina’s Smart Start initiative, EQPD helps eligible child care professionals advance their education while strengthening the quality of care and learning experiences available to young children in Stokes County.
Ready to apply?
Important Information About EQPD Financial Incentives
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for EQPD financial incentives, applicants must:
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Be employed for at least 20 hours per week at a licensed, star-rated early childhood facility in Stokes County.
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Work with children from birth through age five who have not yet entered kindergarten. Center directors and assistant directors may qualify without working directly with children.
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Meet all program requirements and submit a complete application with the required documentation by the applicable deadline.
Facilities operating under a temporary license, an inactive license, or a Letter of Compliance under G.S. 110 are not eligible.
Available Financial Incentives
Eligible participants may receive financial incentives for successfully completing qualifying college coursework or achieving an educational milestone.
Per-Course Incentives
Receive $300 per qualifying course for completing a three-credit-hour college-level early childhood education course with a grade of C or better or a passing grade. Prerequisite developmental coursework may qualify after completing three credit hours of prerequisite classes.
Educational Milestone Incentives
Participants may also qualify for an incentive upon achieving an eligible educational milestone.
Educational Achievement
Early Childhood Certificate
Early Childhood Diploma
Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education
Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education
Incentive
$150
$150
$350
$600
$1,000
Milestone incentives are available once per person for each eligible achievement level. Certificates and degrees must be earned through an accredited college or university. Additional program requirements may apply.
All incentives are contingent upon available funding. Please review the full application and program guidelines for details.
Application Deadlines
EQPD applications are accepted according to the program's incentive schedule. The following deadlines and anticipated payment dates are listed in the 2026–2027 application.
Semester
Application Deadline
Fall 2026 - First Deadline
Fall 2026 - Second Deadline
Spring 2027 - First Deadline
Spring 2027 - Second Deadline
January 29, 2027
May 28, 2027
May 28, 2027
August 27, 2027
Anticipated Payment
February 2027
June 2027
June 2027
September 2027
Payment dates are estimates and depend on available funding. Applicants should consult the application for the deadlines that apply to their specific coursework or educational achievement.
What Do You Need to Apply?
Applicants are responsible for gathering and submitting all required documentation.
Initial Incentive Request
Prepare the following items:
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Completed EQPD Application/Incentive Request with all required information and signatures.
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Current facility license or a listing for your employing facility from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE).
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Professional Development Plan signed by you and your college academic advisor. The plan must have been reviewed and signed within the 365 days before the initial application is received. If an academic advisor is unavailable, you may complete the plan with the EQPD Program Coordinator.
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Transcript verification from each college or university where qualifying coursework or an educational milestone was completed. An official or unofficial transcript printed from your college's online account may be accepted.
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Employment Verification Form signed by your center director or school principal, confirming your current employment and that you work with children from birth through age five for at least 20 hours per week. Eligible directors and family child care home operators may self-certify when they do not have a governing board to approve their application.
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Completed IRS Form W-9.
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Two signed Individual Grant Agreements.
Subsequent Incentive Requests
If you are submitting an additional incentive request within the same fiscal year, you must provide:
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A completed Application/Incentive Request with the required signatures.
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Transcript verification from each college or university where qualifying coursework or an educational milestone was completed.
Additional documentation may be required if requested by the EQPD program staff.
How to Apply
Step 1: Review the program requirements.
Read the EQPD application carefully to confirm your eligibility, applicable deadline, incentive type, and required documentation.
Step 2: Complete the online application.
Fill out the application with your personal information, employment details, education information, and incentive request.
Step 3: Complete the required forms.
The application includes an Employment Verification Form and a Professional Development Plan. Follow the instructions for each form and send the appropriate email and edit link to the person responsible for reviewing, completing, or signing it.
Step 4: Upload your supporting documentation.
Attach your facility license, transcript verification, completed W-9, and other required documents. Include your signed Individual Grant Agreements as directed in the application.
Step 5: Review and submit.
Check that all required fields are complete, supporting documents are attached, and all necessary signatures have been obtained. Submit your application by the applicable deadline.
Need to Finish Your Application Later?
You can save your application and return to complete it later using the link sent to your email. Use that link to update your information, complete outstanding sections, and add supporting documentation.
If you need to make changes after submitting your application, refer to the instructions in your confirmation email.
Additional Requirements
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Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application and all required documentation by the applicable deadline.
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Applications must include the required signatures. Original and electronic signatures are accepted.
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Faxed applications and grant agreements are not accepted.
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If an application is incomplete, applicants may be notified and given 10 business days from the notification date to provide missing documents.
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If funding is limited, preference may be given to complete applications received by the original deadline and applicants pursuing an associate degree or higher in early childhood education.
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Incentive payments depend on the availability and allocation of funding.
Questions About EQPD?
Contact Jessicca Smith, Early Education Workforce Specialist, at Stokes Partnership for Children for assistance with eligibility, required documents, deadlines, or the application process.
Jessicca Smith
Phone: 336-985-2676, ext. 147
Email: jsmith@stokespfc.com