About Free Scholarship Money for Preschool
- Preschool is actually a misnomer, since all children in an accredited preschool are actually learning in a formal or semi-formal environment away from home. Preschool is an important piece of any child's development; it is the place where children learn to socialize with people from outside their family circle, forge new friendships and learn to read or count, as well as many other social and technical skills.
- There are several different types of religiously based scholarships available for preschool education. One of the largest for Jewish families in San Francisco is the Jewish Community Endowment Fund (see Resources, below) which is geared toward giving need-based scholarships to working-class families who want their child to attend a Jewish preschool program.
Wesleyan University, in Connecticut, also offers scholarships for families that want their children to attend their religiously-based preschool. Families earning under $75,000 a year can qualify for at least a partial tuition scholarship which is meant to supplement other scholarships. For more information, see the Resources section below. - In recognition of the importance of early education, the United States Department of Health and Human Services administers the Head Start program, which is geared toward providing educational opportunities for the children of low-income families. Head Start eligibility must be applied for and proof of income may be required. The child must also be enrolled in an accredited Head Start-qualified program. The Head Start "scholarship" is considered one of the largest preschool scholarships in the nation.
- Though some scholarships may be limited by geography, some nation-wide organizations and associations offer resources for parents looking for a scholarship for their child. The National head Start Association (see Resources, below) offers information about head start programs, other scholarship opportunities, and program assistance to families of all sizes and incomes. The NHSA is an organization of parents and education professionals dedicated to distributing information about the head start program. As a membership organization, those who contribute receive additional benefits such as newsletters and advocacy services, but most of the information is available to the public for free.
- Most preschool scholarships do not cover 100 percent of the tuition and some contribution is required by the parent of the child. This is because preschool education is not mandatory in any state. Still, given the benefit of early childhood education, coupled with the significant reduction in educational cost provided by scholarships, many families opt to take on the extra financial burden to give their child every opportunity to succeed.