Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program

The application for Rural R.U.N. is open until September 1, 2023!

Contact Us

Cameron Fall, Scholarship and Career Navigation Coordinator
Ph: (720) 899-3048
Em: cameron@ecclacolorado.org

Mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Do you need translation? Please contact Cameron Fall to schedule a meeting.

Resources

What Is Reskilling, Upskilling, and Next-skilling?

The Rural Reskilling, Upskilling, Next-skilling (R.U.N.) Scholarship Program provides career counseling and tuition support to early childhood professionals in rural communities seeking to reskill, upskill, or next-skill.

Reskilling supports unemployed and underemployed workers to change industries in order to return to work or obtain more appropriate work based on their skills;
Upskilling assists workers in increasing skill levels to retain or advance in their employment; or
Next-skilling supports workers in developing future-ready skills necessary for employment in the twenty-first century.

Click here to learn more about House Bill 21-1264 and how the Rural R.U.N. Scholarship came to be.

Eligibility Guidelines

Participants must meet the following criteria:

Participant meets the age requirement of 16 or older
Participant resides in an area covered by the Rural Workforce Consortium including…
- Eastern Sub-Area
- Southeast Sub-Area
- Pueblo Sub-Area
- Upper Arkansas Sub-Area
- South Central Sub-Area
- Western Sub-Area
- Southwest Sub-Area
- Rural Resort Sub-Area
- Northwest Sub-Area
- The Broomfield Sub-Area is not an eligible sub-area

Check the map to see if you live in an area covered by the Rural Workforce Consortium!

Participant is unemployed and available for work in the early childhood profession (this includes those who have looked for work sometime in the past 12 months) OR is currently employed but seeking to move to a job within the early childhood profession that provides better opportunities for career advancement
Participant can complete their credential within 12 months of the date of being awarded the scholarship
Participant experienced an economic loss within the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lost or adverse changes in employment, increased food or housing insecurity, had to withdraw from college after March 13, 2020, or suffered another form of economic loss OR participant currently qualifies for any of the following federal assistance programs:
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Childcare Subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Program
- Medicaid
- National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) – for affordable housing programs only
- Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) – for affordable housing programs only
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs
- Medicare Part D Low-income Subsidies
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Head Start and/or Early Head Start
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Section 8 Vouchers
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Pell Grants

Scholarship Models

The Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program works with several early childhood credential programs. Some credentials require taking college courses, while others do not. Click below to check out all of the eligible programs

Non-College Credentials:

Non-College Credentials do not require taking college courses.

Aim4Excellence™ National Director Credential – FULLY FUNDED!
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential – FULLY FUNDED!
- Infant
- Toddler
- Preschool
CLASS® Observation Certificate through Teachstone® – FULLY FUNDED!
- Infant – 2008 Edition
- Toddler – 2008 Edition
- Pre-K/K-3 – 2nd Edition
Early Childhood Coach Credential – STIPEND-BASED!
Environment Rating Scales® Training through Clayton Early Learning – FULLY FUNDED!
- ECERS-3™
- FCCERS-3™
- ITERS-3™
Environment Rating Scales® Certificate through Clayton Early Learning – STIPEND-BASED!
- ECERS-3™
- FCCERS-3™
- ITERS-3™

College Certificates:

College Certificates do require taking college courses.

ECE Entry Certificate or Entry-Level Teacher Certificate – STIPEND-BASED!
ECE Assistant Teacher Certificate – STIPEND-BASED!
Early Childhood Teacher Certificate – STIPEND-BASED!
Infant Nursery Supervisor Certificate or Infant/Toddler Supervisor Certificate – STIPEND-BASED!
Director Certificate – STIPEND-BASED!
Early Childhood Coach Credential – STIPEND-BASED!

Participating Colleges:

The Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program works with all Colorado colleges and universities that offer early childhood certificates. Click on an institution below and it will take you directly to the institution’s Early Childhood website for more information. If an institution is not listed, the institution may not offer any certificates related to early childhood education. Please contact Cameron Fall to discuss.

Supports Offered

Participants will receive a one-time scholarship award applicable towards the cost of their credential. The amount a participant receives is dependent on the credential they wish to pursue. Additionally, participants are offered the following supports:

Career navigation and support
1:1 support to ensure progression toward the completion of your credential
Connection to various types of resources, career navigation and support, and support with transitioning back into the workforce
Navigation into the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Program and/or the Back to Work: Early Childhood Education Scholarship Program (where applicable)

Apply Now! Application Open Until September 1, 2023!

Student Resources

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BTW Financial Aid Resources

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BTW College Resources

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BTW Career Resources

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BTW Justice, Equity, and Belonging Resources

About the Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program

On June 23, 2021, Colorado House Bill 21-1264 was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis. The bill appropriated $75 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan through the SLFRF program to support talent development. This Bill created the stimulus investments in reskilling, upskilling, and next-skilling workers program as an initiative of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) to facilitate training for unemployed and underemployed workers in the state during times of substantial unemployment. This Bill appropriated funds and directed the CWDC to use these funds to support individuals in need of:

Reskilling, which supports unemployed and underemployed workers to change industries in order to return to work or obtain more appropriate work based on their skills;
Upskilling, which assists workers in increasing skill levels to retain or advance in their employment; or
Next-skilling, which supports workers in developing future-ready skills necessary for employment in the twenty-first century.

The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is an equal opportunity scholarship provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in any of its activities or operations. Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are welcome to apply!

For more information, keep reading or contact Cameron Fall, Scholarship and Career Navigation Coordinator at (720) 899-3048 or by email.