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T.E.A.C.H. SCHOLARSHIPS

Your Pathway to Higher Education

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Minnesota is a scholarship program that helps early childhood and school-age educators increase their levels of education, compensation, and commitment to the field by earning college credits and degrees. It is a national program licensed by T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood® National Center located in North Carolina.

Interested in learning more about how much a TEACH Scholarship will cover? Use our T.E.A.C.H. Cost Calculator to estimate your expenses and the amount of assistance you could receive.

392 early childhood educators increased their education with a TEACH Scholarship in FY 2024. Over 90% reported that they were satisfied with the program.

View the 2023-2024 Annual Report.

TEACH_MINNESOTA_LOGO

I am so excited to be graduating with my certificate in Early Childhood and I am proud to say I am continuing on in the Fall for my AAS degree. Taking these courses has done so much for me and the children I care for. I have learned an immense amount of information which is making me a better child care provider, but it has also given me something that is just for me, something to take pride in because I am so passionate about caring for children and I choose to work hard on my coursework. I am so thankful for all of it.

-Sara, Family Child Care Provider

T.E.A.C.H. allowed me to get my BA in early childhood, which gave me the confidence to talk to families about developmental concerns. I can talk with families confidently about their children during conferences and with that confidence comes respect from parents that I am more than just a “babysitter” or “daycare." 

– Lynn, Child Care Center Teacher

It’s a great opportunity for the workforce and I’m motivated to share my expertise in a relational way and in a practical way that helps individuals, and the field grow.

-T.E.A.C.H. Mentor

I wanted to help teachers find their next step and find their passion and help them grow into their practice.

-T.E.A.C.H. Mentor

SCHOLARSHIP TYPES

Early Childhood or School-Age Care Educator Scholarship

Family child care providers, center-based staff, or school-age care staff can receive funding to take classes to earn college credit or an associate or bachelor’s degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education at an accredited Minnesota college or university. T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships cover 85% of the cost of tuition and books for up to 18 credits per year. Recipients also receive a travel stipend and release time. Upon successful completion of nine or more credits, recipients may receive a two percent raise (center-based only) and/or a $250-$300 bonus. Scholarship recipients commit to remaining at their place of employment for at least one year after their scholarship end date. Other scholarship options are available for early childhood educators who are participating in Empower to Educate, who wish to pursue fewer credits, or who choose to complete their CDA trainings at an approved college or university.

 

Early Childhood Trainer or Coach Scholarship

Coaches, Achieve Approved Trainers, and participants in the Trainer Academy can receive financial assistance to help them increase their Career Lattice Step while they support the early childhood field through quality training or coaching. Recipients receive a tuition stipend and a $50 bonus for each course completed. After the scholarship end date, recipients commit to instructing at least three Achieve-approved trainings within one year or remain in their coaching position for at least 2 years.

ELIGIBILITY

Early Childhood or School-Age Care Educator Scholarship

  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Be employed by a licensed early childhood or child care program, be a licensed family child care provider, be employed by a public prekindergarten program, or be an employee in a school-age program exempt from licensing in Minnesota or participating in Empower to Educate
  • Be working at least 20 hours per week
  • Be committed to continue working at your current place of employment for one year beyond your contract year
  • Be accepted into a Child Development or Early Childhood Education degree program or be pursuing college credits for a national Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) at an approved, accredited college or university in Minnesota
  • Have a Develop Individual Membership with verified employment
  • Not currently receiving a REETAIN grant from Child Care Aware of Minnesota

 

Early Childhood Approved Trainer or Coach Scholarship

  • Be an Achieve Approved Trainer or Coach*
  • Be accepted into a Child Development or Early Childhood Education degree program at an approved, accredited college or university in Minnesota
  • Be committed to instructing at least three Achieve-approved trainings in the year following your scholarship or remaining as a Coach for at least 2 years
  • Not currently receiving a REETAIN grant from Child Care Aware of Minnesota

*Coaches must contact a T.E.A.C.H. counselor to confirm eligibility.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you apply

  1. Work a minimum of 20 hours per week at a licensed or license-exempt early childhood program in Minnesota or be participating in Empower to Educate
  2. Apply and be accepted to an approved, accredited Minnesota college or university
  3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  4. Complete the appropriate participation agreement

 

Applying for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship

  1. Complete an online T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Application. Apply online at any time, but applications must be in by the following deadlines to have a specific semester covered by the scholarship:
    Semester Application Deadlines Quarter Application Deadlines
    Fall Semester: November 1st Fall Quarter: November 1st
    Spring Semester: March 1st Winter Quarter: February 1st
    Summer Semester: July 1st Spring Quarter: May 1st
    Summer Quarter: August 1st
  2. Email or upload the required paperwork to complete the application

For applicants currently working in the early childhood field:

For applicants participating in Empower to Educate:

  • College acceptance letter/email or current unofficial transcript
  • Proof of a Develop account (A screenshot or Learning Record is sufficient. Develop membership not required).
  • Acceptance letter from Empower to Educate
  • A copy of a financial aid award/denial letter or FAFSA application confirmation page
  • A signed W9 tax form

Once all application materials have been received, T.E.A.C.H. counselors connect with applicants within 1-2 weeks to award or deny a scholarship.

View a recorded Recipient Information Session to learn more about applying for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship.

RESOURCES & FORMS

Recipient Forms

 

Recipient Resourses

SPONSORING A RECIPIENT

A quality program counts on quality teachers. One of the most significant indicators of quality child care is the educational level of child care providers. The T.E.A.C.H. scholarship program helps you assist your staff in achieving their professional development goals with credit-based education and helps to reduce staff turnover in your program.

When you sponsor a T.E.A.C.H. recipient, you commit to paying just 5% of employee’s tuition and book fees, providing three hours of paid release time per week to the employee, and paying a raise or bonus to the employee at the completion of the contract. Use our T.E.A.C.H. Cost Calculator to estimate your sponsorship expenses.

For more information about sponsoring a T.E.A.C.H. recipient, contact a T.E.A.C.H. Counselor.

 

Sponsorship Forms

 

View a recorded Sponsor Information Session to learn more about applying for a T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship.

 

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Minnesota Apprenticeship Program supports you to expand your skills as an early childhood educator by bringing your college learning straight into your early childhood classroom. By combining employment, on-the-job training, college coursework, and personal support from a mentor, you will earn an industry-recognized credential or degree and learn to apply early childhood best practices in your program.

 

Benefits for Apprentices

  • Develop skills in an essential occupation.
  • Learn from a hands-on mentor.
  • Earn college credits or a degree while working.
  • Begin a long-term career with no college debt.
  • Earn a nationally recognized apprenticeship certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor.

 

Benefits for Employers

  • Invest in your program’s quality by investing in your staff.
  • Strengthen the skills of your employees.
  • Improve employee retention.

 

Participation Process

  1. A sponsor (employer) emails apprenticeship@childcareawaremn.org to set up a meeting to discuss eligibility guidelines and participation requirements. 
  2. The apprentice and mentor candidates are invited to an informational meeting with a T.E.A.C.H. counselor.
  3. The apprentice candidate submits a scholarship application and the mentor candidate submits a mentor agreement form
  4. The mentor attends a free online training and the apprentice prepares for their college term

 

Due Dates for Scholarship Application and Mentor Agreement

College Semester / Quarter Enrollment Scholarship Application and Mentor Agreement Due Date Mentor Training Schedule
Spring / Winter and Spring September 20 October - November
Summer / Summer February 20 March - April
Fall / Fall June 20 July - August

 

For more information, contact us at apprenticeship@childcareawaremn.org.