Who is Eligible?

• Eligible scholarship applicants must be registered in the IdahoSTARS Professional Development System.
• Anyone who works directly with children in a Child Care Program and earns $15 or less per hour, and is employed 15 hours or more per week is eligible to receive scholarships for approved training, workshops, conferences, modules, and mentor services.
• Anyone who works directly with children in a Child Care Program and earns $15 or less per hour, and is employed 25 hours or more per week is eligible to receive academic scholarships as well as scholarships for approved training, workshops, conferences, modules, and mentor services.

Scholarship Types

training, WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES: Approved training are listed online at the ITC web site

MODULES: CDA, T.I.M.E. (Training in a Manila Envelope), Child Care Health Consultant Training CCHC, Literacy training on-site (BEST)

MENTOR SERVICES: Available through the M.E.C.E. Program. Both center and family child care providers and directors can request the free services of a qualified Mentor for a specific amount of time seeking one-on-one guidance with a variety of topics.

Academic Scholarships and Apprenticeships: Academic Scholarships and Apprenticeship programs are available for both center and family child care providers and directors who need financial assistance while earning a CDA, Associate or Bachelor degree in Early Childhood.

Applying for a Scholarship

To apply for a scholarship please download and fill out application in PDF and send to the Idaho AEYC/IdahoSTARS scholarship office.
After you complete a training that you received a scholarship for, please fill out an Action Plan that can be downloaded in WORD or printed copies may be requested by dialing the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine or 1-800-926-2588. To complete the Action Plan online Click Here.

Academic Scholarship Application (MS Word)
Academic Scholarship Application (Adobe PDF)
Training Scholarship Application (MS Word)
Training Scholarship Application (Adobe PDF)

IdahoSTARS Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships are offered to increase the level of education of early childhood caregivers working with young children while making the educational process more affordable, increasing wages, and reducing staff turnover.

IdahoSTARS academic scholarships are a valuable tool for assisting the early childhood professional to move from one level on the IdahoSTARS Career Pathway to the next level.

Academic scholarships pay for tuition for early childhood courses toward a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA), 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 IdahoSTARS Academic Scholarship provides:

• 100% of the cost for tuition paid by IdahoSTARS.
• 100% of the cost of books paid by the employee/scholarship recipient
• Release time is provided by the sponsoring program enabling the scholarship recipient to attend class or study during work hours.
• A 2% pay increase upon successful completion of one year of school provided by the sponsoring program/employer
• The employee/scholarship recipient must work at the sponsoring program one year prior to application for an academic scholarship.
• Academic counseling and administrative support.

For more information contact:
IdahoSTARS Scholarship Office
(208) 345-1090 x18
or visit: www.idahoaeyc.org

Under the IdahoSTARS initiative, child care providers and/or directors can obtain financial assistance for mentor services in the following categories:

• 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.
• Individualized Program:
  Mentors 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, and more.
• Accreditation Program:
  Mentors offer guidance, counseling and resources to child care facilities seeking to obtain NAEYC and NAFCC accreditation. We are currently accepting applications for mentors wishing to work with providers as well as providers seeking mentorship. Information is available on our website: www.idahoaeyc.org under: Mentors for Early Care and Education.