Early Childhood Funding Programs

Montgomery County Early Childhood Child Care Quality Enhancements Awards provide early childhood professionals working in the child care field the opportunity to further their education or to seek accreditation of their child care site. Both center based and family child care providers are welcome to apply.   For more information, go to the Providers link at the Montgomery County Child Care Resource and Referral site.

Montgomery College is participating in the Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund (CCCPDF) Grant from the Maryland State Department of Education.   Books, tuition and fees are covered under the terms of this grant for students who are currently child care providers (full or parttime), participate in the state child care credential program, and attend Montgomery College to pursue one of the following areas of study:

• Early Childhood Education Technology AAS
• Early Childhood Education AAT
• Elementary Education/Generic Special Education PreK-12 AAT

This program requires a commitment of continued work in child care after completing the degree; if the commitment is not kept, funds received must be paid back with interest.  Resources linked below:

• CCCPDF Fact Sheet
• CCCPDF Checklist
• CCCPDF Application Form
• Maryland Child Care Credentialing Checklist
• Credential Application Form

For more information, go to the Maryland State Department of Education or contact the School of Education office at (240) 567- 1757

TEACH Grant Program

Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in high need fields at schools that serve students from low-income families.

Recipients of a TEACH Grant must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which a TEACH Grant was received.  If the service obligation is not completed, all amounts of TEACH Grants received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

To receive a TEACH Grant at Montgomery College students must meet the following criteria:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), with or without demonstrated financial need, and indicate interest in teaching as a career on the form.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen without a bachelor’s degree.
• Be identified as a student in the AAT programs for secondary Spanish, Math or Physics.
• Score above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test (SAT or ACT) or have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve.

For further information or for more resources on financial assistance for college, see the Financial Aid Office at any of the three campuses.

Other Scholarships for Teacher Education

• The Sherman Program at The University of Maryland/Baltimore County provides financial assistance, academic advising, and professional opportunities and development couched in a cohort model of support. It awards multi-year scholarships of up to $10,000 annually for undergraduates on a competitive basis.

The program seeks academically talented students who intend to major in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field and to become a K-12 classroom teacher. Sherman Scholars follow UMBC’s innovative teacher preparation model that requires students to complete a major in their content area while taking courses in pedagogy and methods for Maryland state teacher certification.

They are currently seeking transfer student candidates for the 2010-2011 academic year. Visit this website umbc.edu/undergraduate/learn/sherman.html to get more information.

• The National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs Scholarship Program:

The purpose of the NACCTEP National Scholarship Program is to provide financial assistance to community college students (undergraduate or alternative certification/post-baccalaureate) who are studying to become teachers.  Awards are for a total of $1,000.