QUALITY MATTERS FUND
Community leaders in Chattanooga and Hamilton County, TN value early childhood education because it lays the foundation for lifelong learning, strengthens communities, and boosts long-term economic growth by supporting working families. The Quality Matters Fund was established in 2019 through a public-private partnership to support a strong local network of high-quality child care programs that employ and retain a well-trained and skilled early childhood workforce.
To apply for 2025 Quality Matters Fund programs
KEEP SCROLLING
To read the Impact Report from the 2023-2024 QMF
The 2025 Quality Matters Fund will support child care providers with tuition assistance, unique skills training via UTC Wolf Trap Teaching Artist classroom residencies, and the new facility-update “Child Care Builder Funds”.
To learn more about 2025 GRANT opportunitieS click the buttons below.
NOTE: Any teacher may apply for tuition. Agencies may only apply for either the Teaching Artist Residency OR the Builder Funds. Funding is limited and will be awarded to applications that best demonstrate impact and alignment with program priorities; submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
Child Care Teacher Tuition Assistance
For Teachers
Earn more money by taking college courses and joining the Child Care WAGE$ pay stipend program. Starting with just two college courses, you can earn $600 per year and beyond! We’ll cover the CDA Exam fee or tuition for up to two classes per semester at Chatt State.
Teaching Artist Classroom Residencies
For Directors
Back by popular demand, apply to have one of UTC’s talented Wolf Trap teaching artists visit your classroom over the course of 10 weeks this fall to work with the teacher to integrate the arts into math, literacy, or developmental lessons.
Child Care Builder Funds
For Directors
Is the expense of a new fence, window, or maintenance update preventing you from expanding seats? With this small pot of funds, we hope to enable child care entrepreneurs to make necessary updates to become licensed, increase seats, or improve quality.
Child Care Teacher COLLEGE Tuition Assistance
Community leaders want to help you earn more money by taking college courses and joining the Child Care WAGE$ pay stipend program. Starting with just two college courses, you can earn an extra $600 per year and beyond!
Up to $2,500 in financial support for current, employed child care teachers in Hamilton County, TN to pursue coursework at Chattanooga State Community College – OR – to take the CDA exam. Our goal is to help teachers advance their credentials, meet state licensing requirements, and improve classroom quality – all while earning more money through Child Care WAGE$ TN.
Tuition assistance may cover any relevant courses for continuing education (not just ECE classes). Application details and eligibility requirements are available through the program’s dedicated portal. For specific college course registration questions, please contact Tania at tania.henson@chattanoogastate.edu
In order to ensure students are not dropped from classes for nonpayment, we will strictly adhere to the below deadlines for tuition assistance applications. Any applications received after these deadlines will be considered for the following semester.
• Summer Term Deadline: May 6th
• Fall Term Deadline: August 12th
• Spring 2026 Term Deadline: January 7th
Important Term Information for Chattanooga State Community College
Term (When you take classes) | Date Classes Begin | Date Classes End | Last Day to You’re your Class Without You Being Charged |
Summer 2025 | May 12, 2025 | August 8, 2025 | May 13, 2025 |
Fall 2025 | August 18, 2025 | December 5, 2025 | August 20, 2025 |
Spring 2026 | January 20, 2026 | May 1, 2026 | January 21, 2026 |
For questions, visit our FAQ page or email earlymatterschatt@gmail.com
This tuition assistance is ideal for teachers who have failed a college course and need a second chance to pass their course in order to earn back TECTA tuition assistance. Funds are paid directly to the college. Funds must be repaid in order to receive continued funding support in the next semester. Save time and fill out the co-signer form before you complete your application.
Teaching Artist Classroom ResidencY
Learn unique skills through the UTC Arts Based Collaborative Wolf Trap Teaching Artist Classroom Residency and have a little fun while you’re at it!
If awarded, a professional teaching artist will join your child care classrooms for an immersive teaching residency, twice per week for ten weeks. Through a partnership with the UTC Arts Based Collaborative, child care teachers and their students benefit from on-the-job arts-integrated learning experiences. These residencies focus on building the classroom educator’s creative teaching skills, supporting social-emotional development, and enhancing classroom engagement through music, movement, and drama. Residencies are designed in collaboration with participating child care agencies and are intentionally accessible and impactful for both teachers and children.
All participating teachers in the classroom will receive up to 20 hours of professional development through TrainTN.
April 25-May 18
There are two Fall timeframes for residencies available, depending on what works better for your child care agency. If you are awarded, you must be available to meet with program representatives at least once during the dates outlined below.
Cohort 1 (August – September)
Site visits will take place: June 2 to 13
You are matched with a teaching artist: June 16 to July 1
Observations and Residency Planning: July 2 to August 15
Classroom Residency Dates: August 1 to October 1
Cohort 2 (October – November)
Site visits will take place: August 15 to 29
You are matched with a teaching artist: September 2 to September 19
Observations and Residency Planning: September 5 to September 25
Classroom Residency Dates: October 1 to November 28
For questions email olivia@chatt2.org
CHILD CARE BUILDER FUNDS
Is the expense of a new fence, window, door, or maintenance update preventing you from expanding seats? With this small pot of funds, we hope to enable child care entrepreneurs to make necessary updates to become licensed, increase the number of available child care seats, better retain their staff, and/or improve the quality of care.
The Child Care Builder Funds support facility improvements up to $4,000 for agencies or directors (serving no more than 25 children) who seek to retain or expand child care seats. Funds may be used for upgrades that accelerate the path from pre-licensure to licensed status, address health and safety requirements, or increase classroom capacity. Agencies can apply for support to make updates such as renovations, equipment purchases, or compliance-related modifications.
Funds are limited and receipts are required for all update purchases. Therefore, we recommend seeking a quote for your desired upgrade first, and then only applying for the amount necessary. All applications will be reviewed by the QMF Advisory Committee and awarded to those that best demonstrate impact and alignment with program priorities; submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
April 25-May 18
- Only one application per agency.
- Agencies may only apply for either the Builder Funds or the UTC Teaching Artist Classroom Residency.
- Both nonprofit, for profit, and agencies in their final stages of licensure are welcome to apply.
- A provider with multiple locations that each serve less than 25 will be allowed to apply for that single location.
- Funds are limited and will be awarded after applications are reviewed by the Quality Matters Fund Advisory Committee.
- Projects must be complete by December 31, 2025.
NOTE: There are additional funding resources available for licensed child care providers in TN through TDHS. Visit this website for more information to see if you qualify.
