Continue your journey with a TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship!

How does TEACH work?

Since 1997, the TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship has helped early childhood educators reach the next step in their careers. TEACH offers financial aid 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.

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 book costs 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.

TEACH awarded $766,107 in scholarship awards to 184 students in 2024.

Now it’s your turn.

Logo for TEACH Colorado Early Childhood Leadership Alliance, featuring the words TEACH in large blocks and the organization's name below, alongside the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance emblem with a geometric cross design.

Explore Scholarship Options

General Guidance

Planning Resources

Center Staff and Family Child Care Home Business Owners

Eligibility Guidelines

Early childhood professionals, including directors, teachers, and family child care owner/operators 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 that is located within the state of Colorado.

*Exceptions may be made for programs that do not operate on a full-day schedule.

Two women and four children hugging and playing in a room. The women are kneeling on a carpet, smiling, with one woman hugging a boy and the other woman hugging a girl. The children are wearing colorful clothing, and the room has children's furniture and toys.

Scholarship Model Descriptions

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.

Application Documents

There are documents that you will need to prepare before applying for the scholarship.

Early Childhood Community Specialists and Consultative Roles

Eligibility Guidelines

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 who are not working in a program, but in the Early Childhood Profession in other capacities in Colorado.

  • Work in Colorado

  • Attend an accredited college that is located within the state of Colorado.

*Exceptions made for programs that do not operate on a full-day schedule and for substitute early childhood teachers.


A group of children and two women are hugging and playing together in a room, smiling and enjoying each other's company.

Scholarship Model Descriptions

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.

Application Documents

There are documents that you will need to prepare before applying for the scholarship.

How to Apply

  • A hand typing on a laptop computer in a coffee shop. Glasses and a cup of coffee sit on the table.

    1. Prepare your documents

    Be sure to click on “Application Documents” to download everything you need to apply. Each model has its own version of the Center Participation Agreement (for center employees only).

    You can also find these documents on the resource tool bar inside of the electronic application.

  • A screen shot of the application portal with red arrows pointing to the green checkmarks that appear when a section is complete.

    2. Fill out the application

    Once you register for the awards platform (the big red button below), you will click on the drop-down menu under “My Programs” and select TEACH. Press “Create” to begin.

    You will see a green checkmark next to each complete section.

  • A screenshot of the application page. A blue button with white text reads "Submit as FINAL." This button is circled in red on the screenshot.

    3. Submit as Final

    When you are done, be sure to click on “Submit as FINAL.”

    Your application is not submitted and will not be processed until you complete that step!

  • Submission Methods

    1. Applying online through the Awards Platform is the preferred method! This is the quickest and most reliable way to ensure that your application is received and processed in a timely manner.

    2. You can email your application to Shannon Hall at shannon@ecclacolorado.org.

    3. You can mail your application to:

    7850 Vance Dr.
    Suite 280
    Arvada, CO 80003

    Please note — the ECCLA team works primarily remote, and mailing a physical application will significantly delay processing times.

Apply Now

 FAQs

Applicant FAQ

  • YES! Anyone who works in a licensed early care and education setting is eligible to apply!

  • YES! TEACH will cover 95% of your tuition and book fees. Please be sure to submit the FCCH Provider Income Worksheet with your application.

  • Yes, please use your tax ID number on the application.

  • The application consists of personal information (phone number, address, etc), demographic information, educational history, employment information, income verification, and an “e-signature” if completing online.

  • Applicants will submit:

    • Center Participation Agreement (to be filled out and signed by Director) — LICENSED CENTER STAFF ONLY

    • College Acceptance Letter (screenshot is acceptable) or student ID of school you are attending.

    • PDIS confirmation (screenshot is acceptable)

    • Income verification (most recent paystub)

    Associate and Bachelor degree applicants will need:

    • FAFSA verification (screenshot is acceptable)

    Bachelors degree applicants will need:

    • College transcripts (unofficial is acceptable) showing you have completed at least 60 college level courses.

    Family Child Care Home applicants will need:

    • Family Child Care Home Income Worksheet

    • Paystubs or parent receipts

    Supporting documents can be found in the “Resources” box within the online application.

  • 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, and family child care professionals, are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship helps early childhood educators access higher education by either paying 90% of tuition and books or on a stipend-based model, depending on the scholar’s role in early childhood or the scholarship model they are awarded.

    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.

    Similar name, distinct offerings, but both working to provide a whole bunch of support for early childhood professionals across the state. 

  • Investment from each party involved results in success for the recipient as well as the sponsoring program. Developing this collaboration is a key component of this unique model, so it is a requirement of the scholarship. When you invest in your staff, they invest in your program. Employer outcomes can include increased retention and a more highly qualified workforce with strong ties to the field

  • Yes, when completed as a part of a bachelor’s program.

Sponsor FAQ

  • Yes! You just need to ensure that the person signing the Center Participation Agreement is authorized to do so.


  • Click here to see the Potential Sponsoring Program Guide     for estimated costs, the model matrix with explanations, and a printable FAQ.

  • Each scholarship contract is for one year (3 terms). After the initial contract, recipients may reapply to continue working toward their professional milestone or degree.

  • Item descAn essential component of most TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado scholarships is paid release time.


    Because most TEACH scholarship recipients work full time and often have children of their own, paid release time helps balance responsibilities of going to school with their work and family obligations. Paid release time is defined as any paid time the sponsoring program gives the recipient to study, do homework, etc.

    Continue exploring the FAQ to learn more about how to make this work for your program and how to collect reimbursement from TEACH for Paid Release Time.ription

  • In evaluations of TEACH Early Childhood®, sponsors often identify the release time component as one of the more difficult aspects. As a potential sponsor, you may recognize the importance of paid release time, but you also may be challenged with how to balance this with your need for full staffing. However, it is easier than you think!

    • Offer release time during rest or planning times. Scholarship recipients can study or use the center’s computer for papers and class projects.

    • Schedule release time when teacher:child ratios go down.

    • Scholarship recipients can leave work early with pay and, if necessary, other qualified staff can substitute.

    • Allow recipients to come in late or leave early while receiving usual pay.

    • Pay scholarship recipients for their lunch breaks. But remember, recipients can’t work over 40 hours without overtime pay.

    • Bank leave time and give scholarship recipients a whole day off before a major test, or give them half days off so it is easier to bring in a substitute.

    • Any other creative ways you can find!

  • Paid release time acknowledges the time commitment a TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado recipient is making to your program; not only are they going to school but they are committing to stay employed in your program for a year after their contract is completed.


    Additionally, TEACH will reimburse your program for release hours you provide at $15 an hour. If you provide the maximum release hours during the semester (36), TEACH will send your program a check for $540!


    Use release time reimbursements to help with other TEACH related costs like the program’s portion of the tuition cost. It is up to you!

  • TEACH (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Early Childhood® is a comprehensive national strategy helping address the need for a well-qualified, fairly compensated and stable workforce. TEACH is unlike any other scholarship opportunity. Strengthening the workforce benefits us all. Collaboration between all parties ensures dedication to educational attainment, confidence in skills and shows your staff you are willing to invest in them and their education. You are not only investing in your staff, but your program and the early childhood field as well.

    When you invest in your staff, they invest in your program.

  • The sponsoring program is responsible for paying 5% of the recipient’s tuition and fees, giving paid release time, and the work commitment bonus in the form of a two percent increase OR a one time bonus after the recipient has completed the work commitment.

    The work bonus varies by model:

    • $125 for the Teacher Credential Model

    • $200 for Director Qualification Model

    • $325 for the Associate Degree Model

    • $350 for the Bachelor’s Degree Model

  • Once the contract is active, TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado will send authorization to the college notifying them that TEACH should be billed directly for 90% of tuition and fees for that semester. TEACH will then pay this amount directly to the college. The college will then send an invoice for the remaining 10% of tuition to the sponsoring program. The program will submit payment for the 10% and will be responsible for collecting 5% from the employee.

    It is to your discretion to decide how you will collect the recipient’s portion.

  • This varies by college and how many credits a recipient completes. The average cost per credit hour at a Colorado Community College was $188.09 in 2021. Each course is usually three credits, which would bring the total to $564.27 for one, 3 credit course, putting the sponsoring program’s cost at $28.21 not including fees. All colleges charge different fees based on the program, the course, etc.


    Keep in mind that four-year colleges are more expensive. If you are worried about the costs, please visit the college website for accurate pricing and discuss with the recipient. Each model has a minimum and maximum number of credits associated with it, so you will want to keep this in mind. If you sign a contract to support a recipient with a Director Qualifications Model, you are stating you will be responsible for costs for a minimum of nine credits and a maximum of 18 credits.

  • The sponsoring program agrees to assist with tuition and fees, provide two hours of paid release time weekly, and provide a bonus or pay increase at the end of the recipient’s work commitment period. They will also agree to partnerships and ongoing communication with the TEACH office

  • The TEACH Scholarship Program was designed to address issues surrounding compensation, recruitment, education, quality, and retention in the early childhood field. Teachers tend to remain with their programs when they receive support and investment from their employer. Therefore, this scholarship model was created to foster and strengthen collaboration and partnerships between the employee, the employer, and the scholarship program.


    Investment from each party involved results in success for the recipient as well as the sponsoring program. Developing this collaboration is a key component of this unique model, so it is a requirement of the scholarship. When you invest in your staff, they invest in your program. Employer outcomes can include increased retention and a more highly qualified workforce with strong ties to the field

  • The recipient’s work commitment period begins at the end of the recipient’s educational journey with TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado. The work commitment ranges from six months for Early Childhood Teacher Credential model contracts to 12 months for the Director Qualification, Associates and Bachelor’s model contracts.

  • If a recipient quits (outside of extenuating circumstances), then they are responsible for repaying all funds paid out on their behalf by TEACH and your program.

    It is at the discretion of the program on if/how they collect.

Julie Marquardt 

If it wasn’t for the TEACH scholarship program I would never be able to attend a university. Because of this opportunity, I will be able to make more for my growing family. This has helped me not only navigate the financials of going back to school but has also guided me in life. Dallas is an amazing person to have in my corner. Thank you for providing us with this opportunity, I am truly grateful for it.

Julie Marquardt smiling, standing close with one arm around the shoulders of another person

TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado Contact

Shannon Hall, Senior Program Director
Ph: (720) 899-3047
Em: shannon@ecclacolorado.org

For questions about payments, please contact:
Enola Garland, Associate Program Director
Ph: (720) 699-8283
Em: enola@ecclacolorado.org

Interpretation is available. Please schedule a meeting in advance.

Logo for Early Years: A Comprehensive Approach to Enhancing Early Care and Education

TEACH Early Childhood® Colorado is a licensed program of Early Years.