College Scholarships

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County has a college scholarship program to help support early childhood practitioners in their commitment to continue their formal education. This particular scholarship program is designed to support those students who would like to complete a specific program through the State College of Florida (formerly MCC). Those programs currently include: the FCCPC, the Director’s Credential, or an Associate’s degree.

Minimum Requirements

In order to be a candidate for this scholarship program, early childhood practitioners must:

  • Be a resident of the state of Florida.
  • Be considered “direct instructional staff” by working with children in the capacity of teacher (either lead or secondary/assistant) or director.
  • Have a signed School Readiness Agreement with the ELC-Manatee (between the early education site and the ELC-Manatee), and also have School Readiness students that are currently enrolled at their site.
  • Be working 20+ hours a week in a permanent (non-substitute) position.
  • Have worked at the site for 90 days.


How Do I Apply?

  1. If you meet the minimum scholarship requirements listed above, complete an ELC College Scholarship Application and FERPA Third Party Release form.
  2. Hand-deliver or mail the completed application and FERPA Third Party Release form to the ELC by the deadline indicated. IMPORTANT: We must have your original signature on the FERPA Third Party Release form. Please do not send by email or fax.


If you are accepted into the scholarship program, a letter will be sent to you officially informing you that you are a recipient of the ELC College Scholarship.

ELC College Scholarships are intended for early childhood college courses, therefore you will be responsible for costs related to parking permits and other incidentals. However, the ELC has a Textbook Loan Program in which early childhood credit course books are available for check out each semester, so you may not incur costs for books.

Other Important Things to Know

  • The ELC will pay for a maximum number of 3-credit hour classes per semester.
  • Once the ELC agrees to accept a student for scholarship, the ELC agrees to see that student through the completion of their program track (FCCPC or Director’s Credential or Associate’s degree), provided funding is available and provided the student receives a grade of C or better in their college coursework.
  • Students will be dropped from the scholarship program who receive no credit for a course taken with ELC Scholarship funds two times within a program track. This may be from either receiving a non-passing grade (D or F) or withdrawing from a class, or both. Dropping a course with a refund will not count against a student. If a student is dropped from the scholarship program, s/he will be expected to pay for a class on his/her own and receive a grade of C or better, before being permitted to reapply for the ELC Scholarship program. The ELC can not, at this time, pay for remediation courses or general education courses. A scholarship recipient must have a declared major of Early Childhood Education. The ELC will only pay for education courses that fulfill requirements of this major, or a particular program track such as FCCPC or Director’s Credential. In other words, we cannot pay for general education classes such as Math 101 or Computers 102, etc.
  • Students will need to reapply for ELC Scholarship funds prior to the beginning of each semester. (The re-application form is much shorter than the original application.)
  • Certain funds are earmarked and spread out for use throughout the year. So, this fund operates under a first-come, first-served basis each semester. Meeting deadline requirements will greatly improve your chance of being first in line and therefore you will have a better chance of being selected. The ELC may choose to place a cap on the number of students who can be accepted into the scholarship program, from each child care site, per semester.

    The cap may be limited to these following ratios:

    1-10 direct instructional staff on site No more than 2 people per semester accepted into scholarship program.
    11-15 direct instructional staff on site      No more than 3 people per semester accepted into scholarship program.     
    16+ direct instructional staff on site No more than 4 people per semester accepted into scholarship program.


    * These numbers are based on “Dedicated Direct Instructional Staff” (teachers and directors who are permanent staff members and work more than 20 hours per week).

 

Deadlines for the 2011-2012 Academic Year

Fall 2011
July 29:  New applications for SCF Scholarship due to ELC
August 8:  All class schedules and schedule bills due to ELC
August 22:  Fall 2011 classes begin

Spring 2012
November 28:  New applications for SCF Scholarship due to ELC
December 19:  All class schedules and schedule bills due to ELC
January 9:  Spring 2012 classes begin

Summer 2012
April 9: New applications for SCF Scholarship due to ELC
April 23:  All class schedules and schedule bills due to ELC
May 14:  Summer A & C 2012 classes begin
June 26: Summer B 2012 classes begin

 

The ELC looks forward to supporting you in your endeavors to continue your education and apply the knowledge you have learned towards the education of your young students!

If you are interested in our College Scholarships or have any questions about the program, please call the Early Learning Coalition at (941) 757-2900 extension 253 or submit an electronic request for information.