I am truly grateful for the experience I have had through this scholarship. It gave me the push I needed to accomplish my goals and get my degree.
– Lead Educator, Southeastern Missouri
Associate Degree Scholarship
Associate Degree Scholarship may best suit your needs if you are:
- Working towards an AA, AAS, or AAT in early childhood education at a Missouri-based 2-year college.
- Still needing your general education courses before working towards your early childhood education Bachelor’s degree at a Missouri-based 4-year college.
* This scholarship model covers both general education and early childhood courses and can be renewed multiple times to earn an Associate degree based on funding availability through TEACH Missouri.
Eligibility – All applicants must:
- Have the desire to earn college credit towards an Associate degree (AA/AAS/AAT) in early childhood education.
- Be at least 18 years old and have a high school or equivalency diploma.
- Work directly with children birth to 5 years old daily in a licensed or license-exempt child care program.
- Work directly with children at least 30 hours a week in a child care program.
- Make under $26.00/hour.
- Work in Missouri and be authorized to work in the U.S.
Once awarded a Scholarship, you will:
- Be assigned a TEACH Missouri Scholarship Counselor to assist you through the process.
- Enroll in the Missouri community college of your choice to earn 9 to 15 early childhood and general education college credit hours successfully within 3 consecutive semesters successfully passing all classes.
- Pay only 10% of your tuition and books, e.g., for a $300 class, your 10% portion would be only $30! Your sponsoring employer pays only 10% too.
- Commit to staying at your sponsoring child care program for 12 consecutive months of continued employment at sponsoring child care program.
TEACH Missouri will:
- Pay 80% – 90% of the tuition and books for your 9-15 college credit hours.
- Pay you an Accessibility Stipend of $150 each semester you attend classes.
- Pay you $450 (in two installments of $225) after you complete three semesters and 6 months of commitment time to your current child care program.
View Associate Scholarship Model:
TEACH Early Childhood® Missouri is a licensed program of the Early Years.
Current funding is a statewide quality initiative through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood, Contract CS250431001.
