Navigating Quality First Scholarships: Eligibility and Access to Quality Early Care in Arizona
Child care costs represent a significant financial burden for many families. The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) and other organizations offer various forms of financial assistance to help families access quality early care and education. Quality First Scholarships are a key component of this support system, aimed at making quality early learning accessible to low-income families. This article details eligibility requirements, how to access these scholarships, and other related programs available in Arizona.
The Role of Quality First Scholarships
Quality First Scholarships are designed to help low-income families afford quality early care and education for their young children. This financial support covers a portion of child care costs, enabling families to access high-quality early care and education settings for their children. The scholarships are distributed by participating child care programs to eligible families on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Eligibility Requirements for Quality First Scholarships
Eligibility for Quality First Scholarships is primarily based on family income levels. Scholarships are available for parents who are working, looking for work, or improving their work skills through training or education. Specifically, families must make at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines to qualify for the scholarship.
To apply for a Quality First Scholarship, families typically need to provide the following documentation:
- A completed Quality First Scholarship Application.
- A birth certificate for the child.
- Proof of family size.
- Proof of income.
How to Find and Apply for Quality First Scholarships
Families with young children can use the search tools available to look for child care and preschool programs in their area that offer Quality First Scholarships. If no scholarships are currently available, it is advisable to ask to be added to the program’s scholarship waiting list and stay in touch, as scholarships can become available at any time.
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Risen Savior, for example, has received grants for families who qualify for Quality First Scholarships. These scholarships can be used for full- or part-time care, accommodating both the full-day child care program and the half-day preschool program. Interested parents can call the school office to check on current availability and obtain the Quality First Scholarship Application.
Additional Support Through DES Funding
In addition to Quality First Scholarships, the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) provides funding to support families with child care costs. Risen Savior, for instance, is contracted with DES and accepts families with DES funding. This collaboration between child care providers and DES helps to ensure that more families have access to affordable child care options.
Head Start and Early Head Start Programs
Head Start preschool programs (for 3- and 4-year-olds) and Early Head Start (for infants and toddlers) offer another avenue for low-income families to access free, high-quality early learning services. These programs provide comprehensive support, including nutrition, health, mental health, disabilities services, and social services, all with a strong emphasis on parent involvement.
Head Start programs typically provide early care and education on a part-day basis, although some programs may enroll a percentage of children from families with incomes above the poverty guidelines. To find a program, you can use the Head Start Locator or consult the Arizona Head Start information sheet to find the local program serving your community.
ACSTO Scholarships
For students enrolled in kindergarten, such as at Risen Savior, there is an opportunity to apply for a scholarship from ACSTO - Arizona Christian Scholarship Tuition Organization. These scholarships can provide additional financial assistance to families seeking a faith-based education for their children.
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Pima Early Education Program Scholarships (PEEPs)
In Pima County, the Pima Early Education Program scholarships (PEEPs) assist children from income-eligible families to attend high-quality preschools at numerous locations across the county. Families can complete the scholarship application through the participating childcare provider, making the process more accessible. PEEPs is funded through a collaboration between Pima County, the City of Tucson, Towns of Marana and Oro Valley, and participating school districts.
The Impact of Funding and Program Changes
During 2023-2024, Arizona preschool programs enrolled 6,323 children, marking an increase of 369 from the previous year. State spending totaled $26,892,795, supplemented by an additional $23,511,685 in federal recovery funds. This represents a significant increase in funding compared to previous years.
Federal COVID-19 relief funds played a crucial role in supporting Quality First Scholarships by increasing reimbursement rates to the cost of quality and raising the eligibility threshold to 300% FPL, thereby increasing the number of scholarships available. The First Things First Board has approved maintaining the increased reimbursement rate for Quality First Scholarships.
However, dramatic decreases in tobacco tax revenues have resulted in a significant drop in funding. Despite these challenges, First Things First (FTF) has increased its commitment to Quality First Scholarships. FTF collaborates with the state to meet federal match requirements and preserve federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) funds.
In 2023-2024, the Quality First (QIRS) model was revised to provide more individualized quality improvement supports to participating programs, with lower-rated programs receiving more support and higher-rated programs receiving less. Programs are eligible to receive QF Scholarships as long as they participate in QIRS and have met at least a three-star rating on the QIRS quality standards.
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Historical Context
Arizona began funding preschool programs in 1991, along with supplemental services for preschool, full-day kindergarten, and first through third-grade education. In 2006, Arizona voters earmarked certain tobacco tax revenues for early childhood development and health programs, creating First Things First (FTF) to oversee these funds. FTF allocates funds to communities based on the birth to age 5 population and the percentage of young children in poverty.
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