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Eligible early learning professionals can get most of their tuition costs and fees for courses covered by applying to the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program.

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The program pays 95% of tuition costs and fees for eligible college coursework taken by early learning professionals. There’s a maximum benefit of $8,000 per individual each fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30.

Tuition costs and fees obtained through other funding sources – such as scholarships, stipends, discounts, or grants, with the exception of the Pell Grant – are used to determine the amount of assistance. Those interested in applying are recommended to do so at least four weeks prior to the start of the course, or prior to the tuition due date – whichever comes first.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• They must be a Pennsylvania resident.
• They must work a minimum of 20 hours weekly in a classroom setting or as a director, assistant director, or education coordinator.
• They must work in a child care facility that holds a current Child Care License under the Department of Human Services (DHS) and demonstrate continuous employment for at least 12 months.
• They must agree to continue to work in a Keystone STARS facility for two months for every credit supported by the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program with two months beginning at the conclusion of the course for which funding was received. Total time due will not exceed 24 months following the conclusion of the most recent course completed.
• If they are child care center directors, assistant directors, family or group child care home owners/operators, they must earn less than $25 per hour or $52,000 annually.
• If they are aides, assistant teachers, or teachers, they must earn less than $21.63 per hour or $45,000 annually.
• They must be enrolled in credit-bearing courses at an in-state accredited institution toward an approved credential.
• They must maintain a 3.0 GPA for the credit-bearing coursework toward a credential in which the student is enrolled.

For more information, including the required documents for applying, visit Keystone STARS’ Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program website.