Scholarship Funding Levels: The VCCPSP will pay for tuition (and technology fees, if applicable) at a participating Virginia community college or four-year college/university for up to two courses per semester when eligibility criteria are met. Maximum lifetime eligibility for VCCPSP scholarships is either eight (8) undergraduate courses that focus on preparing students to be early educators serving children between birth and 12 years of age – or – a maximum lifetime award amount of $4,020 (effective March 15, 2022, for students new to the program), whichever occurs first. Once enrolled, the maximum award amount for existing student accounts will not change even if the maximum award amount is increased for new applicants.
Course Options: Scholarships are available for students who are taking undergraduate courses related to early childhood education at a participating community college or four-year college/university. Approved courses taken at a community college will be awarded scholarships based on the tuition (and technology fees, if applicable) charged and the applicant’s remaining scholarship balance available.
For undergraduate courses at a four-year college or university, the scholarship will pay up to $400 per course for courses comparable to approved community college courses. When applying for a scholarship for courses at a four-year college/university, applicants are required to indicate the course number, course title, and course description as well as the comparable community college approved course.
How to Apply: Those who are interested in the VCCPSP should submit an online application. Paper applications are accepted from students without access to online systems.
- Students are required to apply each semester they would like to receive a scholarship during the corresponding semester application period.
- Students may apply for funding for an approved course for which a scholarship was not previously received.
When to Apply:
Scholarship applications are accepted for fall, spring, and summer academic terms. Students are required to submit an application for each semester in order to be considered for a scholarship.
The annual scholarship application periods* are:
- FALL Semester Courses June 15 for approximately five weeks
- SPRING Semester Courses October 15 for approximately six weeks
- SUMMER Semester Courses March 15 for approximately five weeks
*Application periods may close early if funds are no longer available for an academic semester or if colleges are beginning to drop students for non-payment on their accounts.
Registration for Courses at Participating Colleges and Universities:
Recipients of the scholarship are responsible for registering for courses at a Virginia college/university and providing their VCCPSP award letter to the school’s business office. If the award letter is not provided to the college/university, the business office may not properly apply the scholarship award to the student’s account.
Scholarship Award Payment:
VCCPSP will pay the college or university directly; VCCPSP does not directly pay or reimburse students. If a student pays for a course, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure the college will reimburse the student if awarded a scholarship.
Verification of Enrollment:
After each application time period, VCCPSP will communicate with each community college and four-year college/university to verify that students awarded scholarships are enrolled and, therefore, eligible for VCCPSP funding.
Drop/Change Courses:
If a student is awarded a scholarship and their educational plans change, they need to drop or change a course within the college’s add/drop timeframe so that there is no financial penalty. If a student drops or changes a course, they also need to complete a VCCPSP Course Drop or Change Form. Course Drop/Change Forms that are submitted AFTER the college/university add/drop deadline will be denied and the student will be ineligible for future VCCPSP awards.
Course Grades: When students receive a scholarship, they agree to allow the college/university to release the final course grade for all courses paid with VCCPSP funds or to provide an unofficial transcript to VCCPSP to verify final grades for courses. Students may complete the Authorization to Release Grades Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office at their college or they may submit an unofficial transcript to VCCPSP when final grades are posted. Students are expected to earn a passing grade for all courses for which they have been awarded a VCCPSP scholarship.
Ineligibility for VCCPSP:
- If a student does not report grades for completed courses, eligibility for additional VCCPSP awards will be conditional until grades are received.
- Students receiving a failing grade (F) or a W for a course will no longer be eligible for VCCPSP awards.
- Students with past occurrences of receiving an award without registering for a course or without completing a course will be ineligible for future awards.
If you have questions or need more information about the VCCPSP, please email us at: vaccscholarship@doe.virginia.gov.
