ST. PAUL – Area families may qualify to receive a portion of the historic $20.7 million in early learning scholarship funding the Legislature provided in an education finance package enacted earlier this year.
Families with children ages 3 to 5 may be eligible to receive scholarships of up to $7,500 per child, per year, to help pay for high-quality child care and early education to help them prepare for school.
The Minnesota Department of Education indicates early learning scholarships must be used at a Parent Aware-rated program. This may apply to a licensed family child care; child care center, Head Start program, preschool, or school-based pre-kindergarten program.
“The best thing about these scholarships is they are designed to get funding in the hands of families who need it most,” said Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck. “I urge people in our area to see if they are eligible to receive money to help their children get off to a good start educationally.”
Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership was chosen to administer the scholarships in a region of counties including Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin. Call (218) 512-1584 for more. Milestones is administering scholarships in Stearns and can be reached at (320) 251-5081.
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