Scholarship Program
The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) provides scholarship opportunities that make it possible for early childhood professionals to afford coursework leading to advanced credentials and degrees. The scholarship program supports professionals who work in: child care settings (licensed, registered, or tribal), state-funded or tribally funded NM PreK or Early PreK programs, Head Start/Early Head Start, Home Visiting Programs, FIT-Early Intervention Programs, or NM PreK, Title I, or 619 Preschool Programs in public schools. Scholarship awards include one year of funding for tuition, fees, and associated textbooks and have the possibility of renewal each year. Dedicated Scholarship Coaches work directly with scholars to support their pursuit of advanced credentials and degrees.
Scholarship Payment Information
- Once you upload all required documents, your coach will send an Authorization Ticket to the college/university letting them know the ECECD Scholarship will pay your tuition, fees, and books after all Financial Aid and other scholarships have been applied.
- You may still see a balance on your account until your Scholarship is paid. Typically the balance is shown as “Third Party” but this may not always be the case.
- Scholarships are not paid to the colleges/universities until at least the middle of each semester.
Bilingual Incentive Payment
- Early childhood educators may be eligible to receive a one-time incentive payment of $1,500 if they are certified bilingual.
- Click here to apply for the incentive payment.
- You will need to upload a copy of your certification document to your scholarship or wage supplement account:
- passed PRAXIS-TESOL or
- passed La Prueba or
- bilingual seal on High School Diploma or
- Tribal/Pueblo/Nation Certification for indigenous languages
- Other document showing proficiency
Wage Supplement Program
The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) provides education-based supplemental wages to early childhood educators working in child care settings (licensed or registered), state-funded NM PreK or Early PreK, and Head Start/Early Head Start programs. Applicants must work as a teacher, teacher’s assistant, or home child care provider. Applicants must earn less than $16/hour; work a minimum of 20 hours/week in a qualified program, and have at least 5 credit hours of completed early childhood education coursework from a higher education institution. The program is education-based and includes ten incremental levels; the more education one attains, the more supplement one can receive.
You can apply for the Wage Supplement Program at any time. You will receive your supplement payment in the month following your 6-month qualification period. Payments are based on full-time/part-time work status and education levels.
Click here for a PDF flyer regarding the ECECD Wage Supplement Program: English Spanish
Bilingual Incentive Payment
- Early childhood educators may be eligible to receive a one-time incentive payment of $1,500 if they are certified bilingual.
- Click here to apply for the incentive payment.
- You will need to upload a copy of your certification document to your scholarship or wage supplement account:
- passed PRAXIS-TESOL or
- passed La Prueba or
- bilingual seal on High School Diploma or
- Tribal/Pueblo/Nation Certification for indigenous languages
- Other document showing proficiency