Early Learning Scholarships

Pathway I Scholarships

To apply for a Pathway I Early Learning Scholarship you must complete an application for your region or area. Find your county in the listing below and click on the appropriate region or area or call the number listed. Applications must include all required proofs in order to be complete. You may mail or deliver your application to your county's Area Administrator. If you need assistance with completing the application, you may contact your Area Administrator.

Region 1: Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau --To receive an application, call 1-800-543-7832

Region 2: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen

Region 3: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Saint Louis

Region 4: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Wilkin

Region 5: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Regions 6E and 6W: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville; Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, Yellow Medicine

Region 7E: Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine

Region 7W: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright

Region 8: Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock

Region 9: Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, Watonwan

Region 10: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Winona

East Metro Area: Anoka and Washington

West Metro Area: Carver, Dakota, and Scott

Twin Cities Area: Hennepin and Ramsey

Tribal Administrators

Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa – Child Care Services: 1-800-551-0969

White Earth Reservation – Child Care/Early Childhood Programs: 1-800-950-3248

Pathway II Scholarships

Pathway II scholarships are only available through select early learning programs and centers such as Head Start. Check with your early learning program to see if they receive Pathway II scholarships.

What you may need to apply:

The application must be completed and signed by a parent or legal guardian and sent with the following:

·        Proof of Income such as two most recent pay stubs, W-2 form, a financial aid statement, a signed statement from the current employer on company letterhead, documentation of child support, documentation of social security income, or if other types of documentation are not available, the previous year’s income tax filing documents:

-OR-

·        Proof of enrollment in one of the following programs: Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program (FRLP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Head Start, Foster Care and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

Other Rules that may affect your eligibility:

Asset Limit: None

Citizenship Requirement: None

Residency Requirement: Must have a Minnesota address

Other: Must have a child age 3 or 4 (by September 1 of the calendar year) who is not enrolled or participating in kindergarten or a child age 0-5 who falls in one of the priority categories. Priority status is given to children (0-5) if they have teen parents, are in foster care, are in need of (receiving) child protective services, or if the family has expereienced homelessness in the previous 24 months. If the child is between the ages of 3 and 5, he/she must have completed (or will complete within 90 days) an Early Childhood Health and Developmental Screening (Early Childhood Screening or Preschool Screening).

For more information on the eligibility requirements or explanations of the Early Learning Scholarship Program, click here.