Financial Support & Scholarship Options

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T.E.A.C.H.

T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Early Childhood® Minnes ota : A Scholarship Program Intended to Help Early Childhood and School-Age Care Professionals Increase Their Education, Compensation and Commitment to the Field

The T.E.A.C.H. MINNESOTA program has helped child care professionals earn degrees in their field since 2002.

Sheila Podgorski is a family child care provider who has been in the child care field for 11 years. She is a recent T.E.A.C.H. graduate who, during her time studying with the help of the program, maintained a 4.0 gradev point average. 

“T.E.A.C.H. has given me the opportunity to educate myself. The children in my care have benefited from my new knowledge. I am proud to be a graduate. I am a more confident child care provider, mentor and mother.”

Click here to visit the T.E.A.C.H. Web pages.

R.E.E.T.A.I.N.

R.E.E.T.A.I.N. (Retaining Early Educators Through Attaining Incentives Now) Grant Program: Invests in Minnesota Child Care Providers by Awarding Personal Incentive Grants

Deloris Friske is a family child care provider who has served children and families in the Prior Lake area for over 25 years. This is her story:

”I work long hours each week providing care for the children and preparing for our days together, but the time is well worth it–I am confident I send these children off to school as creative and secure kids. To be recognized by R.E.E.T.A.I.N. for my years in the field and my contribution to the community has been wonderful. I used the dollars I received to purchase some courses and tools for assessing the children’s learning progress and to build a freestanding garage for storage of our outdoor play equipment and riding toys. Before I had the garage, our outdoor toys would be ruined by the winters. Now children can use the equipment year-round inside.

I never miss an opportunity to tell child care providers about the R.E.E.T.A.I.N. program as a great opportunity to feel appreciated and improve your program or earnings.”

Click here to visit the R.E.E.T.A.I.N. Web page.

CCR&R Grants Program

A mended fence in Duluth, an updated, safer crib purchased in Pelican Rapids, a class on child development for staff at an Albert Lea child care center or new art supplies for the coming year to a family child care program in South Minneapolis. These are the types of improvements to child care programs made possible by the Child Care Resource & Referral Grants Program.

“We used the grant dollars we were awarded to attend a training conference, which has the staff really fired up. We were also able to create a literacy corner for the children. The grant has opened up doors for us and for the kids!”

—Minnesota child care provider and grant recipient

Turn to us for help with:

Grant funds are limited and are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified child care providers.

To find the grants contact in your area, select your county or reservation:

Minnesota CDA Support Project:

Helping Child Care Providers on the Path to a National Child Development Associate Credential

The Minnesota CDA Support Project offers financial support and guidance to child care professionals— including licensed family child care providers, child care center staff and Head Start staff—who are working toward their National Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. READ MORE.

“Receiving my CDA has changed everything for me for the better. I now understand the importance of my work and have the knowledge and tools to honor and do well for the children I work with. The support that has helped me get here has been invaluable.”

—Tracy Gleeland, Minnesota child care provider