VECF administers a scholarship program – Project Pathfinders – designed to increase the skills of early childhood professionals in preschool and child care settings by accessing community college coursework and credentials.
Donor Name: Virginia Early Childhood Foundation
State: Virginia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Scholarship
Deadline: 07/22/2022
Details:
The most important factor in school success and learning outcomes for young children is the capabilities of the adults who support their growth and learning. The early childhood education workforce plays an important role in supporting the optimal development of young children – the majority of whom spend their days in preschool or child care settings while parents work. Especially for children who are at risk because of their family’s low-income status or other factors, the skills and competencies of child care and preschool teachers are essential for ensuring the school readiness of children in their classrooms.
This scholarship opportunity is administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation for professionals in preschool and child care settings in Virginia. When scholarship recipients apply for funds, they will set a specific credentialing goal (for example: an Early Childhood Career Studies Certificate) and be eligible for funding to pursue achievement of that goal, as well as to access resources, as needed, such as additional funds to defray the costs of books and fees.
Eligibility Criteria
Project Pathfinders will be available to individuals currently employed in child care or preschool settings. Individuals may include teachers, assistants, or administrators working with children from infants through prekindergarten in classrooms based in centers, public or private schools, faith institutions, Head Starts, and family day homes. Project Pathfinders gives priority to individuals working with at-risk children (including but not limited to those benefitting from child care subsidies, qualifying for free or reducedprice lunch, or participating in public preschool programs such as Head Start or Virginia Preschool Initiative). High school students dually-enrolled in a community college early education program are also eligible for Pathfinders scholarships.
For more information, visit VECF.
