State Governments

• Because states have a vested interest in the education of children, a number of state governments offer scholarships and grants for early childhood educators to receive additional schooling and training. Often, the scholarships and grants come from educational organizations in the state. For example, the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program offered by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education goes to educators who have worked for at least one year as an educator in the state. In Kentucky, educators currently working at least 20 hours a week qualify for state-funded Early Childhood Development Scholarships.
  
  

Regional and State Organizations

• Regional and state-level nonprofit organizations are also a source for scholarships and grants for early childhood educators. Scholarships come from organizations dedicated to education, like the PATCH Scholarships offered by the Hawaii PATCH child resource group, which offers $750 in tuition assistance to early childhood educators. Scholarships can also come from nonprofit organizations not specifically related to education, such as the Early Childhood Scholarship Programs offered by the Oregon Community Foundation. The Oregon Community Foundation scholarships provide money for additional schooling and training, as well as for conferences and workshops.
  
  

National Organizations

• Scholarships for early childhood educators are funded by national organizations as well. The Child Care Services Association, which operates in 20 states and receives funding from Pepsi, sponsors the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Project, offering three different levels of scholarships to current early education providers and educators. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards also partners with various national corporations and businesses to offer scholarships to current early childhood educators.
  
  

Colleges and Universities

• A number of colleges and universities that offer degrees, credentials and certificates for current early childhood educators also offer those educators scholarships and grants. Scholarships come from colleges and universities of all levels, from community colleges to four-year institutions. Montgomery College in Montgomery County, Maryland, offers the Montgomery County Early Childhood Child Care Quality Enhancements Awards for teachers and educators currently working in an early education setting. Edmonds Community College in Washington State provides the Washington Scholarships for Child Care Professionals for current teaching professionals.