Early Childhood Education degree tuition funding opportunities at Keystone College for practitioners working in child care and the ECE field
Contact/Questions:
Carolyn Crowley
Community Partnership Program Specialist
Institutional Advancement
carolyn.crowley@keystone.edu
(570) 945-8472
Rising Stars Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
Provides:
95% tuition funding for credit-bearing courses at an in-state accredited institution toward a Child Development Associate (CDA), Director Credential or an approved credential.
Eligibility:
- Pennsylvania resident;
- Working in a child care facility that holds a current (in good standing) child care license under the Department of Human Services (DHS) and demonstrates continuous employment for at least 12 months;
- Working a minimum of twenty (20) hours weekly in a classroom setting or as the director, assistant director or education coordinator;
- Aides, assistant teachers, teachers: Earning less than $40,000 annually;
- Child Care Center Directors, Assistant Directors, Family or Group Child Care Home Owners/Operators: Earning less than $50,000 annually;
- Agreeing to continue to work in a Keystone STARS facility for two months for every credit supported by the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program with two months beginning at the conclusion of the course for which funding was received. (Total time due will not exceed 24 months following the conclusion of the most recent course completed);
- Enrolled in credit-bearing courses at an in-state accredited institution toward a Child Development Associate (CDA) or an approved credential; and
- Maintaining a 3.0 GPA for the credit-bearing coursework toward a CDA or a credential in which the student is enrolled.
Application:
- Application for the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance is through Pennsylvania’s Professional Development (PD) Registry. No paper applications will be processed.
- Forms and additional information
T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Early Childhood® PENNSYLVANIA Scholarship Program
Provides:
PACCA offers a variety of T.E.A.C.H. Scholarships to meet the needs of the early care and education workforce in center and home-based settings. T.E.A.C.H., the scholarship recipient and the sponsoring center (if applicant is employed by a child care center), each pay a portion of the recipient’s educational costs. Most scholarship models require recipients to successfully complete between 9-15 credit hours during a contract year toward a degree in Early Childhood Education and commit to work for one year after each scholarship year. T.E.A.C.H. pays for a percentage of the cost of tuition and books, provides a travel stipend each semester, reimburses the center for a percentage of the release time given, and provide counseling and administrative support for the program.
Eligibility:
- Work a minimum of 25-30 hours per week directly with children in a DHS-certified child care program;
- Make $19 or less an hour ($25 or less per hour for directors);
- Be interested in pursuing coursework at a participating college (at least 9 credit per year) toward a degree in early childhood education;
- Bachelor’s degree applicants must meet additional eligibility criteria, which includes having at least 55 transferable credits towards a degree in Early Childhood Education or equivalent.
Application
Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization at PASSHE
Provides:
- Tuition for undergraduate degree programs in Early Childhood Education
- Free online tutoring in numerous subjects
- Technology supports, as needed
- Success coaching
Eligibility:
- Work in a PA-licensed childcare center
- Work an average of 25 hours per week (during non-COVID periods)
- Be PA residents in the NORTHWEST, SOUTHWEST, CENTRAL, and NORTHEAST regions. For individuals in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties, please see the PHMC ECE PDO information below.
Forms:
- Eligibility Link: PDO: all potential students must meet the eligibility requirements to be funded by the PDO. The eligibility link can be found here: PDO Student Application
- Course Completion Survey: upon completion of each course, PDO approved students are required to submit the PDO Course Completion Survey. The link to the online survey is found here: PASSHE PDO. The password is PASSHEPDO.
- FERPA Release: to be funded by the PDO, students must complete a FERPA form that can be completed online. The link to the form can be found here: PASSHE PDO FERPA
- Commitment to the Field of Early Childhood: when first enrolling in coursework, students are asked to complete a form attesting to their commitment to the field of early childhood regardless of current employment status. During Covid-19, employment may not be a factor in receipt of funding. Please have students click the link and complete the form. This is in process of being enveloped into the database; however, for current students, this link is the best way forward. The link to the online form can be found here: ATTESTATION FORM
PHMC Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization
Provides:
- Serving the professional development needs of ECE Practitioners in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties.
- In partnership with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, PHMC ECE PDO supports direct access for the ECE workforce to pursue career pathways that lead to degrees or credentials. By coordinating with Early Learning Resource Centers to improve the quality of ECE programs, we address the existing barriers to degree attainment. Participants can choose between online, face-to-face, and hybrid options.
Eligibility:
- Applicant must be a PA Resident and an Early Childhood Educator/Program Director employed by a PA DHS licensed child care program (center, group, or family home provider). If you are an early childhood educator currently unemployed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, please contact ECE PDO at 267-773-4400 to discuss this application. Once your application is submitted, an ECE PDO Team Member will contact you within 48 hours.
Application:
