Under the IdahoSTARS initiative, child care providers and/or directors can obtain financial assistance in the following categories by completing the correct Scholarship Application:

Training Scholarship
Mentor/Coaching Scholarship
Assessment Scholarship
College Coursework Scholarship
Academic Scholarship
Documents

For more information contact:
IdahoSTARS Scholarship Office
1471 Shoreline Dr. Suite 202
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: Call the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday – Friday and ask for the IdahoSTARS Registry Office.

The Training Scholarship covers any IdahoSTARS approved trainings, workshops, or conferences in Early Care and Education Core Knowledge Components (Ten Core Knowledge Components for Early Care and Education () completed after initial enrollment in IdahoSTARS.

Approved trainings are listed online at the IdahoSTARS Training Calendar

Training Scholarships also cover:

• GED Testing: This is a reimbursement for GED Testing Fees
• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) Training: Courses not taken for college credit

To apply for a Training Scholarship read the following steps:

Step 1: Check eligibility

To Be Eligible For Scholarship You Must:

• Be Enrolled in Professional Development Systems Registry (Registry)
• Work in a child care setting that cares for children while parent(s) or guardian(s) work or attend training
• Work in a program that operates full time
• Earn $15.00/hour or less
• Child Care Provider - provide regularly scheduled direct care and/or education with children in a child care facility at least 15 hrs/wk or 780 hrs/yr
• Directors/Owners - be regularly scheduled to work directly in the facility with children, staff or parents a minimum of 30 hours/wk

Step 2: Fill out and Attach

Fill out the Training Scholarship Application ()

Attach the following documents:

• Current Pay Stub (if child care provider)
• Income Worksheet (if director/owner)
• Copy Facility License (if applicable)
• Training Registration Form (if requesting payment to be made ahead of training date.)
• Payment Receipt (if requesting reimbursement, e.g. receipt or, cancelled check/money order stub made out to trainer/training.
• Certificate of Completion (if requesting reimbursement, e.g. Certificate, grade report, or transcript)

Step 3: Mail

Mail the forms and all required documents to:

IdahoSTARS
Attn: Scholarship Office
1471 Shoreline Drive, Suite 202
Boise, Idaho 83702-9105
Fax: 208-345-6569

Step 4: After You Receive Your Training Scholarship

When you attend an IdahoSTARS training complete the following:

• Sign in on the Official IdahoSTARS attendance sheet when you attend your training
• Complete the same day evaluation that is handed out during the training
• Two weeks after the training you will need to complete the reflective evaluation online

Note: Signing the attendance sheet and completing the evaluation is required in order to continue receiving IdahoSTARS scholarships.

Note: If you sign the attendance sheet and complete the same day and reflective evaluations, you will no longer need to send completion certificates or scholarship action plans into the scholarship office.

The Mentoring Scholarship is for those seeking mentoring to assist with individual projects, or a two-year apprenticeship.

Mentor Services: Available through the Mentor/Coaching Resource Program. Both center and family child care providers and directors/owners can request a scholarship for the service of qualified Mentor/Coaches for a specific amount of time seeking one-on-one guidance with a variety of topics. Under the IdahoSTARS initiative, individual child care providers and/or directors/owners can obtain financial assistance for mentor services in the following categories:

• Individualized Program: Mentor/Coaches are available for short-term projects. These include but are not limited to assistance with communication skills, leadership skills, developing a business plan for a child care facility, preparing for licensing, parent education, development of policies and procedures, playground safety, NAEYC and NAFCC accreditation and much more.
• Apprenticeship Program: A 2-year structured mentoring relationship for the child care provider working 25 or more hrs/wk in a licensed child care facility. The provider must be pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. This is a nationally recognized program that supports wage increases with increased education and experience.
• CDA Assessment: Mentor/Coaches can assist child care providers who have completed their Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) coursework/training to prepare for their facility assessment.

To apply for a Mentor/Coaching Scholarship read the following steps:

Step 1: Check eligibility

To Be Eligible For Scholarship You Must:

• Be Enrolled in Professional Development Systems Registry (Registry)
• Work in a child care setting that cares for children while parent(s) or guardian(s) work or attend training
• Work in a program that operates full time
• Earn $15.00/hours or less.
• Child Care Provider - provide regularly scheduled direct care and/or education with children in a child care facility at least 15 hrs/wk or 780 hrs/yr
• Directors/Owners - be regularly scheduled to work directly in the facility with children, staff or parents a minimum of 30 hours/wk

Step 2: Fill out and Attach

Fill out the Mentor/Coaching Scholarship Application ()

Attach the following documents:

• Current Pay Stub (if child care provider)
• Income Worksheet (if director/owner)
• Copy Facility License (if applicable)

Step 3: Mail

Mail the forms and all required documents to:

IdahoSTARS
Attn: Scholarship Office
1471 Shoreline Drive, Suite 202
Boise, Idaho 83702-9105
Fax: 208-345-6569

The Assessment Scholarship is for those applying for program/classroom assessments using the Environment Rating Scales, the CLASS Classroom Assessment Scoring System, or the Program Administration Scale.

• Classroom Environment Rating Scale Assessment: Reliable assessors use the Environment Rating Scales to observe and report on the environment, interaction, materials and curriculum of a child care classroom. This assessment report can be used by directors to develop an improvement plan for their facility with specific criteria for changes they choose to make.
• CLASS Classroom Assessment Scoring System: CLASS Classroom Assessment scale observes and mentors teaching staff on staff-child interaction.
• Program Administration Scale: Program Administration Scale helps directors in centers assess the business practices and policies of their program to identify specific strengths and weaknesses to make a plan for improvement.

To apply for an Assessment Scholarship read the following Steps:

Step 1: Check eligibility

To Be Eligible For Scholarship You Must Be:

• Applicant (Lead Teacher/Primary caregiver) in each classroom receiving an assessment must be enrolled in Professional Development Systems Registry (Registry) and must be eligible for incentives.
• Facility director/owner must be enrolled in Registry, but does not have to be eligible for incentives.

Step 2: Fill out and Attach

Fill out the Assessment Scholarship Application ()

Attach the following documents:

• Current Pay Stub (if child care provider)
• Income Worksheet (if director/owner)
• Copy Facility License (if applicable)

Step 3: Mail

Mail the forms and all required documents to:

IdahoSTARS
Attn: Scholarship Office
1471 Shoreline Drive, Suite 202
Boise, Idaho 83702-9105
Fax: 208-345-6569

The College Coursework application covers any early childhood education class offered for college credit at an accredited Idaho state college or university. College Coursework scholarship is a reimbursement scholarship only. Scholarships will only cover tuition paid by the student. Scholarships will not cover enrollment fees, activity fees, parking, books, etc.

To apply for a College Coursework Scholarship read the following steps:

Step 1: Check eligibility

To Be Eligible For Scholarship You Must:

• Be Enrolled in Professional Development Systems Registry (Registry)
• Work in a child care setting that cares for children while parent(s) or guardian(s) work or attend training
• Work in a program that operates full time.
• Earn $15.00/hours or less.
• Child Care Provider - provide regularly scheduled direct care and/or education with children in a child care facility at least 15 hrs/wk or 780 hrs/yr.
• Directors/Owners - be regularly scheduled to work directly in the facility with children, staff or parents a minimum of 30 hours/wk

Step 2: Fill out and Attach

Fill out the College Coursework Scholarship Application ()

Attach the following documents:

• Current Pay Stub (if child care provider)
• Income Worksheet (if director/owner)
• Copy Facility License (if applicable)
• Payment receipt or College/University statement with payment information
• Grade report for the class being reimbursed

Step 3: Mail

Mail the forms and all required documents to:

IdahoSTARS
Attn: Scholarship Office
1471 Shoreline Drive, Suite 202
Boise, Idaho 83702-9105
Fax: 208-345-6569

An Academic Scholarship is for those taking courses towards an early childhood development degree from any: Idaho college/university, Apprenticeship program, or CDA Technical Certificate Assessment. Academic Scholarships pay for tuition in early childhood courses toward a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA), Technical Certificate, Associate Degree, or Bachelor' Degree in early childhood.

Academic Scholarships consist of a partnership between IdahoSTARS, the scholarship recipient, and the sponsoring child care center or home where the scholarship recipient works. Each party shares in the cost of the scholarship.

The Academic Scholarship provides:

• 100% of the cost for tuition paid by IdahoSTARS
• Academic counseling and administrative support
• Provide up to 80 hrs of paid release time (2 hrs. a week suggested) while the employee is attending class (mentor/coach meetings may be included in this) to be verified by the scholarship office through monthly release time reports submitted by the center director/owner.
• Upon successful completion of the 3 semesters/4 quarters, the provider’s sponsorship program (Note: Your sponsoring program is usually your place of employment ) will award the employee a 2% raise above and beyond any other form of compensation the employee is entitled to or apprenticeship wage increase (10% suggested, 2% minimum) above and beyond any other form of compensation the employee is entitled to.
• The employee/scholarship recipient must work at the sponsoring program one year prior to application for an academic scholarship
• The employee/scholarship recipient must pay for their own books, enrollment fees, activity fees, parking, etc.

Scholarship Types

• Academic Scholarships: Academic Scholarship programs are available for both center and family child care providers and directors who need financial assistance while earning a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA), Associate or Bachelor degree in Early Childhood.
• Idaho Quality Child Care Apprenticeship Program: A 2-year structured mentoring relationship for the child care provider working 25 or more hrs/wk in a licensed child care facility. The provider must be pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. This is a nationally recognized program that supports wage increases with increased education and experience.
• CDA Assessment: Available for those providers who have completed an approved CDA course of study and are applying or renewing their CDA Assessment.
• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA): At accredited college programs
• Early Childhood Certificates and Degrees offered in Idaho: An IdahoSTARS Academic scholar must register with a college as well as apply for an IdahoSTARS Academic Scholarship.
  • North Idaho College: CDA, A.A., and A.S. Degree
  • University of Idaho: B.A.S. and B.A. Degree
  • Lewis-Clark State College: Technical Certificate, Advanced Technical Certificate, A.A.S., B.A.S., and B.A. Degree
  • Boise State University: Blended Certificate, B.A.S, and B.A. Degree
  • College of Southern Idaho: Post Secondary Certificate, Technical Certificate, and A.A.S Degree
  • Idaho State University : CDA, Technical Certificate, A.A.S., and B.A. Degree
  • College of Western Idaho: CDA, Technical Certificate, Advanced Technical Certificate, and A.A.S Degree
  • BYU Idaho: not currently an approved IdahoSTARS School
  • Treasure Valley Community College: This A.A. program is reserved for mono-lingual Spanish speaking providers

To apply for an Academic Scholarship read the following steps:

Step 1: Check eligibility

To Be Eligible For Scholarship You Must:

• Be Enrolled in Professional Development Systems Registry (Registry)
• Work in a child care setting that cares for children while parent(s) or guardian(s) work or attend training
• Work in a program that operates full time
• Earn $15.00/hours or less
• Has worked at least one year in their sponsoring program (Note: Your sponsoring program is usually your place of employment)
• Child Care Provider - provide regularly scheduled direct care and/or education with children in a child care facility at least 25 hrs/wk or 780 hrs/yr
• Directors/Owners - be regularly scheduled to work directly in the facility with children, staff or parents a minimum of 30 hours/wk

Step 2: Fill out and Attach

Fill out the Academic Scholarship Application ()

Attach the following documents:

Current Pay Stub (if child care provider)
• Income Worksheet (if director/owner)
• Copy Facility License (required)
• Submit a one page letter describing your short and long term professional development goals and explain how receiving a scholarship will help you achieve these goals.
• Copy Payment Recipe (if requesting reimbursement, e.g. receipt or, cancelled check/money order stub made out to trainer/training.
• Copy of tuition bill and schedule (if you already registered for classes)
• Written letter of recommendation from director/owner.

Step 3: Mail

Mail the forms and all required documents to:

IdahoSTARS
Attn: Scholarship Office
1471 Shoreline Drive, Suite 202
Boise, Idaho 83702-9105
Fax: 208-345-6569