Parents

Age
Children birth through age 4 are eligible, and 5-year-olds are eligible if they turn 5 after September 1 of the current school year. (Children age out of eligibility if they are age 5 on September 1 or are enrolled in and attending kindergarten, whichever is earlier.)

Address
The child must reside in Minnesota with a residential address.

Income
Documentation is required to confirm income eligibility. (Choose one of the options below)

Option 1: Currently participating in one or more of the following public programs. Must provide valid proof of participation.

• MFIP
• CCAP
• CACFP
• SNAP
• Head Start
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
• Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program (FRLP)

OR

Option 2: The family has a household income equal to or less than 47 percent of the State Median Income in the chart below. See application for additional income options.

• One month of current paystubs
• W-2 Form
• Signed tax statement submitted to the IRS
• Child Support payments
• Unemployment statements
• SSI statements

This chart is valid October 14, 2024 through October 2025.

No documentation is needed for children in need of child protection services or in foster care.
Children receive priority status for funds if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Are in foster care or have a parent/guardian who is in extended foster care up to age 21.
• Have been referred as in need of child protection services.
• Have a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
• Have experienced homelessness in the last 24 months.
• Have a parent currently in jail, prison, detention center or on active supervision.
• Are in or have a parent currently in a substance use treatment program.
• Are in or have a parent currently in a mental health treatment program.
• Have experienced domestic violence.
• Currently have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP, ages 3 to 5) or an Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP, ages birth to 3.)

NEW! The Pathway I Early Learning Scholarship application can be completed online!
EarlyLearningScholarshipsHub.mn.gov
To apply for an Early Learning Scholarship using the online portal, you will need to create an account. By creating an account, you will be able to complete the application, upload required documents, receive email updates, check the status of your application, and apply for other children in your household. You must have required income documentation available to complete your application in the hub.

Please contact Think Small at 651-641-6604 with questions or to request a paper application by mail.

Hennepin and Ramsey County residents can download or print one of the applications below.
Please reference eligibility requirements in the Eligibility tab.
ENGLISH
Application
HMONG
Application
SPANISH
Application
SOMALI
Application

If you do not live in Ramsey or Hennepin County, contact your local scholarship administrator.
View the list here.

Tips for submitting a paper application:

• Complete all required areas of the scholarship application. The sections marked with an asterisk (*) are required. All other information is optional.
• Include the income documents necessary to prove your family’s income eligibility. Pages 6 and 7 describe the documents we accept in two categories, Option 1 and 2.
• Applications will not be considered for a scholarship without the required documents.
• Sign and date the scholarship application in ink or use an electronic signature.

Return completed applications and required income documentation:
Drop-off or Mail: Scholarship Department -Think Small 10 Yorkton Court St. Paul, MN 55117
Email: applyELS@thinksmall.org

You may use a Pathway I Early Learning Scholarship at any Parent Aware-participating early childhood program in Minnesota that your child attends on a regular basis. To find an eligible program, please contact Parent Aware at 888-291-9811 or visit the website ParentAware.org.

The Early Learning Scholarships award amounts starting July 1, 2024 are based on the child’s age, program type, county where the program is located, and Parent Aware participation status. View the Early Learning Scholarship Maximum Award Amounts and the Early Learning Scholarships Maximum Registration Fees to learn more.

Important Reminders:

• If you plan to disenroll or stop attending your program, please contact your program and Think Small.
• An awarded child does not need to apply again but may be eligible to renew on July 1st.
• Please contact the Case Manager listed on your award letter for questions about program enrollments, spending, the remaining balance, and renew procedures.
• Please see the back of your award letter for more details about your scholarship.
• Children age out of eligibility if they are age 5 on September 1 or are enrolled in and attending kindergarten, whichever is earlier.
• Scholarship funds pay for attended days and up to 25 absent days. You may qualify for one of the following exemptions: Medical Condition Documentation Form, Exemption Policy for Teen Parents and Children in Families Experiencing Homelessness.

Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) is the Central Payment Administrator for the Early Learning Scholarship Administration Program.
If you have not already sent your programs W-9 and ACH forms for electronic payment to be set-up to receive scholarship payments, please submit to the (temporary) GTCUW secure portal.

Submitting payment invoices for services provided July 1, 2024 and later should also be uploaded to the same secure portal above.
You may also mail completed invoices to:
Greater Twin Cities United Way
Early Learning Scholarship Program
404 South 8th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404

For further instructions or additional questions on how to submit invoices and forms for payment, please visit the GTCUW website:

• GTCUW website
  • Contact with Questions ELSAPaymentSupport@gtcuw.org
  • Phone number 1-833-559-4702

If your program is not currently participating in Parent Aware and you would like to become Parent Aware rated, please contact the Parent Aware Recruiter at qualitysupports@thinksmall.org and Join Us – Parent Aware.

For scholarship information in other languages:

• Spanish: Si gustaría asistencia de lenguaje en español, por favor contáctennos al 1-888-291-9811, presione la opción 1.
• Hmong: Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais lus Hmoob, thov hu rau peb ntawm 1-888-291-9811, nias tus lej 2.
• Somali: Si aad u hesho turjumaan Soomaali ah, fadlan wac 1-888-291-9811 oo dooro doorashada 3.

Visit The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families: https://dcyf.mn.gov