Early Learning Scholarships

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Click here to watch Ethel's story


Chances are you’ve heard a thing or two about Early Learning Scholarships, but I’m guessing you’ve never heard from a family impacted by one. That may be because only 12% of children from eligible families for scholarships receive one.

Bobbi Ordez has one such family. Bobbi is a mother of three. She tried to do her best for her kids and enrolled her oldest in a high-quality early learning program. It wasn’t long until Bobbi and her husband could no longer afford the program.

They didn’t know what to do, but they definitely didn’t want to take their daughter out of the program. She was thriving. Luckily, they received an Early Learning Scholarship before it was too late.



Minnesota must do better to reach children from low-income families, who need access to the best early learning opportunities the most.

Early Learning Scholarships strengthen families and help children who need it the most by giving them the opportunity to attend a high-quality early learning program.

Please encourage our child care providers to participate in Parent Aware and to bring scholarships to children in our region.


The Northwest Minnesota Foundation supports 11 Early Childhood Initiative Coalitions. Our coalitions help young children be ready for Kindergarten.

Becoming a Parent Aware rated child care program is a great way to help the children in your care be ready! For more information contact Program Specialist - Early Childhood, Vicky Grove.




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