Early Childhood Interim Scholarship Program

We look forward to working with you on your career journey in early childhood care and education!

What is the Early Childhood Interim Scholarship Program?

The Early Childhood Interim Scholarship Program is a scholarship program focused on increasing the education of the early childhood workforce.

The Early Childhood Interim Scholarship is funded through the Office of Early Learning (OEL)/Department of Education (DOE) of Delaware. It is administered by Children & Families First (CFF).

This is an interim program, beginning November 2021 through June 2023. The scholarship program pays the coursework and assessment fees for CDA Scholars or tuition and class fees for early childhood professionals attending a college/university.

Early Childhood professionals can be earning early childhood credits working toward any of the following:

a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Who can apply for a scholarship?

Anyone wanting to pursue an Early Childhood Credential or degree living in Delaware or working in an Early Childhood program in Delaware.

How do I apply?

Early childhood professionals interested in participating in the scholarship program need to complete an Early Childhood Scholarship Form FY22-FY23 for either a CDA Credential or Associate/Bachelor's Degree (linked below) and submit the required documentation.

What are my scholarship options?

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
A Professional must enroll in a CDA coursework program offered by a training organization that has met the Council for Professional Recognition’s CDA Gold Standard℠ criteria.

The following components of the CDA program are covered by the scholarship program:

120 hours of CDA coursework is covered when the Professional has a 1-year membership with Quality Assist and takes classes through their online platform of Quorum.
The Entire Assessment Fee (Observation & Exam) from the Council for Professional Recognition is covered by scholarship program.
The CDA Renewal fee from the from the Council for Professional Recognition

The scholarship will cover the following CDA certificates:

Center-Based Infant-Toddler
Center-Based Preschool
Family Child Care

Complete the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Scholarship Form

Associate and Bachelor's Degrees in Early Childhood Education

A Professional must enroll in an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree program in Early Childhood at an in-state, regionally accredited college or university.

The scholarship program will cover:

Full tuition for a maximum of 3 classes per semester
- Pell Grants, SEED, loans and other scholarships will be applied first by the Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) before sending invoices to CFF
Student fees associated with classes (ex. registration fee, lab fee)
- Note: Student fees do not cover books or materials fees
- Late Registration Fee will not be covered

The list of accepted degrees and Institutes of Higher Learning can be found here.

Complete the Associate or Bachelor's Degrees Scholarship Form