The Early Childhood Development Scholarship provides a seamless system to upgrade the professional development of those working in early care and education. The state legislature and the Governor created the Early Childhood Development Scholarship as part of the KIDS NOW early childhood initiative.
Scholarship
The scholarship provides financial assistance, to the extent of available funds, in the form of non-repayable tuition scholarships for Kentucky students who are pursuing one of the following:
- Commonwealth Child Care Credential
- Child Development Associate
- Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education or related program
- Director’s Credential
KHEAA College Scholarship
KHEAA is an Early Childhood Development Scholarship that assists Kentuckians who work in a child care or public preschool setting to earn credentials, certificates, and degrees in the field of early childhood education. Additional information can be found at https://www.kheaa.com/web/scholarships-grants.faces or by contacting your Regional Professional Development Coach.
Eligibility Requirements
Those applying for the scholarship must meet the following:
🏠 Residency Requirements
Scholar must be a Kentucky resident and U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident.
📚 Courseload Requirement
Enrolled in nine hours or less a term at a participating Kentucky institution, pursuing an approved credential, and maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
🏢 Employment Requirement
Be employed at least 20 hours/week in a participating early childhood facility or provide training in early childhood development at least 12 times/year for an organization approved to offer training by the Office of the Inspector General of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, or be employed as a preschool associate teacher in a state-funded preschool program.
💵 Financial
Not be eligible to receive state or federal training funds through Head Start, a public preschool program, or First Steps.
Have no unpaid financial obligation to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.
Agree to a service contract based on the credentials pursued.
Online non-college Scholarship Application Announcement
The Division of Child Care (DCC) is excited to announce that the non-college scholarship application process is going electronic! DCC in collaboration with Child Care Aware of KY and ECE-TRIS has created an online application process available in ECE-TRIS.
Kentucky Career Lattice
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in ECE. Put simply, CDAs know how to nurture the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development of children. For more information visit their website at https://www.cdacouncil.org/about/cda-credential.
Click below to download your copy of the steps for completing a CDA online application
Please contact the professional development coach in your area with questions regarding the Kentucky Career Lattice and/or scholarship opportunities available in the state of Kentucky.
Division of Child Care Approved Training Agencies
External Links
Division of Child Care Professional Development
Governor’s Office of Early Childhood