Continue your journey with a TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship!
How does TEACH work?
The TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship helps early educators advance their education while reducing financial barriers. The program offers scholarships for coursework toward early childhood credentials, associate, and bachelor’s degrees. It’s a shared investment: recipients, their employers, and TEACH contribute to costs like tuition, books, and release time. In return, scholars commit to continued employment in the field, ensuring lasting benefits for both educators and young children. TEACH can help you earn a credential, certificate, or degree in Early Childhood Education.
There are scholarship options available for two categories of early childhood professionals:
- Center Program Staff and Family Child Care Home Providers (students working in licensed care settings)
- Early Childhood Professionals that serve ECE in a role outside of a licensed care setting (“Early Childhood Community Specialists”)
TEACH covers 90% of tuition and books for Center Staff and 95% for Family Child Care Home (FCCH) Providers. Early Childhood Community Specialists receive a stipend per course, which varies based on the credential or degree type. In addition to tuition support, TEACH provides a semester stipend and a bonus for successful coursework completion.
Eligibility Requirements for Program Staff and Family Child Care Home Providers
Early childhood professionals including directors, teachers, and family child care providers who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for most models. Applicants must:
- Work in Colorado
- Be employed full-time* in a licensed early childhood setting defined as:
- At least 20 hours a week if working towards Early Childhood Teacher or Director qualifications
- At least 30 hours a week if working toward an associate or bachelor’s degree.
- Attend an accredited college in the State of Colorado
*Exceptions may be made for programs that do not operate on a full day schedule.
Eligibility Requirements for Program Staff and Family Child Care Home Providers
Early childhood professionals eligible to apply for Early Childhood Community Specialist models include coaches, substitutes, home visitors, assessors, consultants, professionals in early childhood-focused nonprofits, and others that are not working in a program, but in the Early Childhood Profession in other capacities in Colorado.
- Work in Colorado
- Attend an accredited college in the State of Colorado
*Exceptions made for programs that do not operate on a full day schedule and for substitute early childhood teachers.
Scholarship Models: Benefits and Participation Requirements
Scholarship Models For Providers and Administrators:
TEACH refers to its different scholarship options as “models.” The following models are for Early Childhood professionals employed in a licensed early care and learning setting. This includes early childhood teachers, family child care home providers, and early childhood program administrators.
Overview
Education: 3-9 ECE credit hours per contract year
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $125 bonus after successful completion of coursework
Sponsor awards $125 bonus or 2% raise after successful completion of work commitment. (Center
Employees Only)
Commitment: 6 months of continued employment at current child care program following completion of
scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Sponsor/Employer | Scholar |
Pays 90% of tuition (95% for FCCH providers) | Pays 5% of tuition | Pays 5% of tuition |
Pays 90% for books | x | Pays 10% for books |
Pays $125.00 travel/internet stipend per semester to recipient | x | x |
Reimburses center for paid release time at $15.00/hour | Provides 2 hours paid release time per week to participants | Receives 2 hours paid release time per week to study |
Overview
Education: 9-18 ECE credit hours per contract year
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $200 bonus after successful completion of coursework
Sponsor awards $200 bonus or 2% raise after successful completion of work commitment. (Center
Employees Only)
Commitment: 12 months of continued employment at current child care program following completion of
scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Sponsor/Employer | Scholar |
Pays 90% of tuition (95% for FCCH providers) | Pays 5% of tuition | Pays 5% of tuition |
Pays 90% for books | x | Pays 10% for books |
Pays $125.00 travel/internet stipend per semester to recipient | x | x |
Reimburses center for paid release time at $15.00/hour | Provides 2 hours paid release time per week to participants | Receives 2 hours paid release time per week to study |
Scholars who apply for the TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Program: Developing Emerging Leaders Apprenticeship Scholarship will apply under the Director Qualifications Model.
Overview
Education: 9-18 credit hours per contract year
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $325 bonus after successful completion of coursework
Sponsor awards $325 bonus or 2% raise after successful completion of work commitment. (Center
Employees Only)
Commitment: 1 year of continued employment at current child care program following completion of
scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Sponsor/Employer | Scholar |
Pays 90% of tuition (95% for FCCH providers) | Pays 5% of tuition | Pays 5% of tuition |
Pays 90% for books | x | Pays 10% for books |
Pays $125.00 travel/internet stipend per semester to recipient | x | x |
Reimburses center for paid release time at $15.00/hour | Provides 2 hours paid release time per week to participants | Receives 2 hours paid release time per week to study |
Overview
Criteria: Must have an associate degree or 60 college level credits
Education: 9-18 credit hours per contract year
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $350 bonus after successful completion of coursework
Sponsor awards $350 bonus or 2% raise after successful completion of work commitment. (Center
Employees Only)
Commitment: 1 year of continued employment at current child care program following completion of
scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Sponsor/Employer | Scholar |
Pays 90% of tuition (95% for FCCH providers) | Pays 5% of tuition | Pays 5% of tuition |
Pays 90% for books | x | Pays 10% for books |
Pays $125.00 travel/internet stipend per semester to recipient | x | x |
Reimburses center for paid release time at $15.00/hour | Provides 2 hours paid release time per week to participants | Receives 2 hours paid release time per week to study |
Overview
Criteria: Must have a bachelor’s degree or acceptance into a graduate program.
Education: 6-21 credit hours per contract year
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $500 bonus after successful completion of coursework
Sponsor awards $350 bonus or 2% raise after successful completion of work commitment. (Center
Employees Only)
Commitment: 12 months of continued employment at current child care program following completion of
scholarship contract & 6 months of continued employment in the early childhood profession
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Sponsor/Employer | Scholar |
Pays 90% of tuition (95% for FCCH providers) | Pays 5% of tuition | Pays 5% of tuition |
Pays 90% for books | x | Pays 10% for books |
Pays $125.00 travel/internet stipend per semester to recipient | x | x |
Reimburses center for paid release time at $15.00/hour | Provides 2 hours paid release time per week to participants | Receives 2 hours paid release time per week to study |
Scholarship Models For Early Childhood Community Specialists:
The following models are for Early Childhood Professionals employed in the early childhood profession but not consistently in a licensed setting. This includes coaches, substitute early childhood teachers, Early Childhood Council staff, home visitors, and more. Unlike other models, the Early Childhood Community Specialist Model does not require participation from an employer or sponsor.
Overview
Education: 3-12 credit hours per contract year (three semesters)
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $100 bonus per course each semester after successful completion of coursework and $125 bonus at the end of the work commitment period.
Commitment: 6 months of continued employment in the early childhood field following completion of scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Scholar |
Pays $750 per course stipend for tuition and fees | Pays remainder of tuition and fees once stipend has been applied |
Pays 75% of books | Pays 25% of books |
Pays $100 semester stipend per semester to recipient | x |
Overview
Education: 9-18 credit hours per contract year
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $125 bonus per course each semester after successful completion of coursework and $300 bonus at the end of the work commitment period.
Commitment: One year of continued employment in the early childhood field following completion of scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Scholar |
Pays $850 per course stipend for tuition and fees | Pays remainder of tuition and fees once stipend has been applied |
Pays 80% of books | Pays 20% of books |
Pays $125 semester stipend per semester to recipient | x |
Overview
Education: 9-21 credit hours per contract year (three semesters)
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $150 bonus per course each semester after successful completion of coursework and $400 bonus at the end of the work commitment period.
Commitment: 18 months of continued employment in the early childhood field following completion of scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Scholar |
Pays $1,050 per course stipend for tuition and fees | Pays remainder of tuition and fees once stipend has been applied |
Pays 90% of books | Pays 10% of books |
Pays $150 semester stipend per semester to recipient | x |
Overview
Criteria: Must have a bachelor’s degree or acceptance into a bachelor’s program
Education: 9-24 credit hours per contract year (three semesters)
Compensation: In addition to tuition support, TEACH awards $200 bonus per course each semester after successful completion of coursework and $750 bonus at the end of the work commitment period.
Commitment: Two years of continued employment in the early childhood profession following completion of scholarship contract
Financial Responsibilities
T.E.A.C.H. | Scholar |
Pays $1,350 per course stipend for tuition and fees | Pays remainder of tuition and fees once stipend has been applied |
Pays 100% of books | x |
Pays $175 stipend per semester to recipient | x |
How to Apply for a TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship
This is the preferred method! You can apply online through our Awards Platform.
You can email your application to Dallas Brown at dallas@ecclacolorado.org.
You can mail your application to:
7850 Vance Dr.
Suite #280
Arvada, CO 8003
Step 1: Download and complete all of the required documents for your application.
- Application Documents for Early Childhood Providers and Administrators
- Application Documents for Early Childhood Community Specialists
- Documentos de solicitud para proveedores y administradores de programas para la primera infancia
- Documentos de solicitud para especialistas comunitarios en la primera infancia
All Models:
- Application Checklist
- TEACH Application
- Center Profile Form
- Electronic Payment Authorization Form
- Family Child Care Home Financial Worksheet (FCCH Business Owners Only)
Center Participation Agreements:
- Developing Emerging Leaders Apprenticeship Scholarship Model Center Participation Agreement
- ECE Credential Model Center Participation Agreement
- Director Qualifications Model Center Participation Agreement
- Associate Model Center Participation Agreement
- Bachelor’s Model Center Participation Agreement
- Master’s Model Center Participation Agreement
All Models:
- Early Childhood Community Specialist Stipend Scholarship Application
- Electronic Payment Authorization Form
Participation Agreements:
- Aplicación
- Acuerdo de Participación del Centro: Modelo de Becas de Credenciales para la Primera Infancia
- Acuerdo de Participación del Centro: Modelo de Beca de Calificaciones del Director
- Acuerdo de Participación del Centro: Modelo de Becas de Título Técnico
- Acuerdo de Participación del Centro: Modelo de Becas de Licenciatura
- Acuerdo de Participación del Centro: Modelo de Beca de Maestria
- Modelo de Beca de T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado
- Reseña del Centro
- Hoja de Cálculo de Ingresos del Proveedor de Cuidado Infantil Familiar
- Programa de Becas de T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado
- Página de Firma y Declaración Jurada de Solicitud de Beca de T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® de Colorado
Estamos trabajando en la traducción de los documentos para el nuevo modelo de becas.
Step 2: Submit Your Application Online
We heavily encourage you to apply online through the Awards Platform.
1. Go to awards.ecclacolorado.org and click “Register.”
2. Under “MY PROGRAMS,” click on the dropdown menu and select TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship. Click “Create.”
3. Fill out the application completely. You will see a green checkmark next to each complete section.
2. When you are done, click on “Submit as FINAL.” Your application is not submitted and will not be processed until you complete that step!
Still have questions? Pleas visit our FAQ or reach out to Dallas Brown at dallas@ecclacolorado.org. We’re here to help!
What’s the difference between TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado and TEACH Colorado?
We get it. Different ‘TEACH’ programs exist in Colorado and it can get confusing. But when it comes to names, we’re so lucky to run in the same circles as TEACH Colorado! ECCLA provides the TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship, which offers early childhood professionals a pathway to pursue higher education. Many of Colorado’s early childhood education professionals, including directors, teachers, family child care professionals, coaches, and more are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Meanwhile, TEACH Colorado is a free, one-stop-shop for anyone considering a PK-12 teaching career in Colorado, offering 1:1 advising, information on teaching pathways, downloadable guides and financial aid resources.
Does the TEACH Early Childhood® Scholarship Program promote TEACH Colorado on its platform for aspiring teachers? You’d better believe it! Similar name, distinct offerings, but both working to provide a whole bunch of support for early childhood professionals across the state.
TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado is a licensed program of Early Years.