Parents

Age
Children birth to age 4 as of September 1 of the current school year and are not yet attending kindergarten.

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

Income
The family has a household income equal to or less than 85 percent of the State Median Income (SMI) or is receiving assistance from an approved state or federally funded program.

Priority populations
Children are prioritized for a scholarship if they:

• Are in foster care or have a parent/guardian who is in extended foster care up to age 21 (no income documentation required)
• Have been referred as in need of child protective services (no income documentation required)
• Have a parent under age 21 who is pursuing a high school diploma or GED
• Have experienced homelessness in the last 24 months
• Have an incarcerated parent
• Are in or have a parent in a substance use treatment program
• Are in or have a parent in a mental health treatment program
• Have experienced domestic violence
• Currently have an individualized education program (IEP, ages 3–5) or an individualized family service plan (IFSP, ages birth–3)
• Children birth through age 3 are prioritized over 4-year-olds.
• Children in families at or below 47% of the State Median Income will be prioritized over higher-income families.

Income Eligibility
Currently participating in one or more of the following public programs:

• Must provide valid proof of participation
• Free and reduced-price meals
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
• Head Start
• Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
• Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)

If your family does not participate in a public program, you will need to demonstrate that your family meets the income eligibility listed in the income chart below.
Acceptable proof of income for eligibility:

• One month of current pay stubs for each income earner
• Previous year’s W-2 Form
• Signed tax statement submitted to the IRS
• Child Support payments
• Unemployment statements
• SSI statements

Apply Online! EarlyLearningScholarshipsHub.mn.gov

To apply for a Pathway I 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.

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.

Contact Think Small with questions 
Call: 651-641-6604  
Email: scholarships@thinksmall.org  

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families  

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, 2025 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 renewal procedures.
• Please read 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Interested in becoming a Parent Aware rated program? 
Connect with the 7-Country Metro Parent Aware Recruiter
Visit: Join Us – Parent Aware
Email: qualitysupports@thinksmall.org 

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.

Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) is the Central Payment Administrator for the Early Learning Scholarship Administration Program.
For instructions or questions on invoices and forms for payment, visit the GTCUW website.
Contact GTCUW with questions
Call: 1-833-559-4702
Email: ELSAPaymentSupport@gtcuw.org

Visit Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families