Early Learning Scholarships
High quality early learning ensures Minnesota children reach kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life. That’s why the Minnesota Department of Education is offering a new scholarship program to help more families access and afford high quality child care and early education programs.
Early Learning Scholarships provide financial assistance for eligible families to enroll in high quality child care and early education programs participating in Parent Aware.
How families can access a scholarship
Scholarships will be locally administered by scholarship offices. The following steps will occur in areas where scholarships are available:
- A family fills out an application to determine if they are eligible for a scholarship.
- The scholarship office in the area will accept the family applications and determine family eligibility. If the family is eligible, the family will choose a program in which to use their scholarship.
- The scholarship office will set up a payment system with the program that the family chose. Programs will be required to submit a claim form in order to receive scholarship reimbursements.
Early Learning Scholarships are currently available in the following locations. To find out if your family is eligible, call the number listed next to your location.
| Becker County | 218-732-7204 or 800-450-1385 | Itasca County | 218-327-5850 | St. Paul | 651-641-6604 |
| Blue Earth County | 800-462-1660 x 1525 or 507-424-1525 | Minneapolis | 651-641-6604 | Wayzata School District | 651-641-6604 |
| Clear Water County | 218-732-7204 or 800-450-1385 | Nicollet County | 800-462-1660 x 1525 or 507-424-1525 | White Earth Reservation | 218-983-3285 x1385 or x1407 |
| Duluth | 651-641-6604 | Pine County | 320-629-5164 | Willmar | 651-641-6604 |
State-funded and Race to the Top federally-funded Early Learning Scholarships
| Scholarship Program Component | State-funded Scholarships | Race to the Top Scholarships | |
| Funding source | State of Minnesota | Federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant | |
| Geographic area | For families who live in: Becker, Blue Earth, Clearwater, Nicollet, and Pine Counties, Wayzata school district, and the cities of Duluth, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Willmar |
For families who live in Race to the Top Transformation Zones: Itasca County, the Northside Achievement Zone in Minneapolis, Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood, and White Earth Reservation. |
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| Child/family income eligibility | Family income is less than or equal to 47 percent of state median income. - OR - Child is eligible for other public funding sources, including the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program, CACFP, Head Start, MFIP, or CCAP. |
200% of federal poverty guidelines. - OR - Child is eligible for other public funding sources, including the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program, CACFP, Head Start, MFIP, or CCAP. |
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| Scholarship office | Becker and Clearwater Counties - Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership (218-732-7204 or 800-450-1385). Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties - Child Care Resource and Referral, Inc. (800-462-1660 x1525 or 507-424-1525). Pine County - Pine County Technical College Child Care Resource and Referral (320-629-5164). Duluth, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Willmar, Wayzata school district - Think Small (651-641-6604). |
Itasca County - Invest Early (218-327-5850) The Northside Achievement Zone - Think Small (651-641-6604). Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood - Think Small (651-641-6604). White Earth Reservation - White Earth Child Care/Early Childhood Program (218-983-3285 x1385 or x1407). |
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| Child age | Between the ages of three and five years old who are not yet eligible to attend kindergarten. | Birth to kindergarten entry. Transformation Zones may determine a target age(s) to receive scholarships. | |
| Scholarship amount per child and program eligibility | Parent Aware program rating level | Scholarship amount per child per 12 months | Transformation Zones will determine the maximum scholarship amounts and program eligibility. |
| 3-or 4-stars | Up to $4,000 per child | ||
| 1-or 2-start | Up to $3,000 per child | Signed up for Parent Aware, have not received a rating. | Up to $2,000 per child |
| Child weekly enrollment requirements | Minimum weekly enrollment hours not required. | 15 hours/week minimum. | |
| Total scholarship funds available | $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2013 and $3,000,000 in each following fiscal year. | $10,776,695 through December 2015. | |