The Professional Development Incentive Award (formerly Merit Pay I) supports high quality intentional, informal education and training (not for college credit).  There are two tracks available to choose from, 25 hours of training for the award of $200 and 50 hours of training for the award of $400.  Applicants are awarded on a priority basis if funding is limited. Applications are posted under What’s New? on the homepage every summer.
 

ECP Scholarships
The Montana Early Care and Education Scholarship Program offers three scholarships that are funded by Best Beginnings Quality Improvement monies (a portion of the federal Child Care Development Fund administered by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services).

Please apply to the ECP for any of the following scholarships at least six weeks prior to submitting your materials to the appropriate organizations.

Applicants must be active on The Practitioner Registry. To receive a Practitioner Registry application, contact the ECP. 

Child Development Associate (CDA) Assessment Scholarship
This scholarship pays for the CDA assessment fee of $325.00 (and the renewal assessment fee of $50) awarded when the candidate applies to the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C. This is the last step after completing all requirements for CDA assessment. A CDA often requires up to two years of preparation time.

         Download a CDA Assessment Scholarship Application

For more information about getting your CDA, contact the National Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition at 1-800-424-4310 or check out our Info Sheet.

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation
The NAFCC accreditation process is designed for family and group home child care programs. It involves a comprehensive self-study, parent surveys, and an observer visit. The fee is $300 for Enrolling in Self Study, $500 for NAFCC Accreditation and $150 for first and second year renewal of accreditation.
Full scholarships are available to cover all three steps of the accreditation process. 

NAFCC Accreditation Scholarship Application
Download Step 1: Application for Enrolling in Self Study
Download Step 2: NAFCC Accreditation
Download Step 3: Renewal for first & second year accreditation

For more information contact the NAFCC at 1-800-359-3817 or check out our Info Sheet

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Accreditation
The NAEYC accreditation process is designed for childcare centers, preschools, school-age programs, and kindergartens. Nationally, over 6,000 programs are accredited, 28 of which are in Montana.

Scholarships are available to help pay the costs of the four steps in the NAEYC accreditation process and for the Annual Report fee.

The Montana application for initial and renewal scholarships requests itemization of all accreditation costs. Please contact NAEYC to verify the costs of accreditation for your program. Scholarships will be reviewed and awarded on an individual basis.

     NAEYC Accreditation Scholarship Application
Download Step 1:  Enrolling in Self-Study
Download Step 2:  Becoming An Applicant
Download Step 3 & 4:  Candidate- OnSite
Download Annual Report Fee

For more information contact the NAEYC  at 1-800-424-2460 or contact the ECP.


College Scholarships
Federal college scholarships and loan programs may be applied for through the Department of Education's Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA).

Contact your college financial aid office for additional information about financing you college education or visit www.ed.gov

Other Scholarships
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarships
Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarships are available to help families in Montana pay for child care while they work, attend school, or participate in Montana's Temporary Aid for Needy Families. For more information contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency.

Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation
Sponsored by TYLENOL, the TLLCCF holds the National Child Care Teacher Awards each spring. Compared to the "Miss America Pageant without the bathing suits," last year awards went to 51 child care teachers representing 22 states. Each winner receives a grant in the amount of $1,000 ($500 to implement a proposed project and $500 for personal use) in addition to an all expense paid trip to Philadelphia, an awards ceremony, nationally recognized speakers and much more.

                                                                                    Updated 6/17/10