Erie’s Future Fund Scholarships are allocated for the 22-23 school year. For families who wish to apply and be added to the waitlist, Erie’s Future Fund has a rolling application process. Click here to download an Erie’s Future Fund Scholarship application.
Erie’s Future Fund Announces the Summer Scholars Program
Beginning in 2016, Erie’s Future Fund now offers a Summer Scholars program. The Summer Scholars program will provide summer scholarships, allowing eligible children to attend a high-quality early childhood education program for three half-days a week. Eligible families can choose from a participating high-quality program, enroll their child, and Erie’s Future Fund will pay for three-half days a week, up to eleven weeks, during the summertime.
How To Qualify for an Erie’s Future Fund Summer Scholarship:
Current Scholars: Parent or Guardians must call Erie’s Future Fund at (814) 874-0144×19 to reserve a spot for the Summer Scholars program. May 2 through May 6 is reserved for current scholar family summer registration. Current Scholars may call after May 6, but the Summer Scholar program applications will be open to the public. We will confirm your scholarship within a week of your phone call.
New Scholars: Contact Kim Beers at Erie’s Future Fund, (814) 874-0144×19, after May 6th to make a quick application appointment. Eligible families will be able to choose from a list of quality programs and enroll their child.
Who can apply for the Summer Scholar program?
- Families must reside within Erie County,
- Have an annual income at or below 185% of poverty (contact our Scholarship Director for specific income requirements), and
- Have a child that will be attending kindergarten in one or two years. Please contact the Scholarship Director for further age requirements.
Erie’s Future Fund
Erie’s Future Fund was created in 2011, an outgrowth of the Erie Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Advisory Panel in partnership with United Way of Erie County, Success By 6, members of the Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) and Erie Together. Leaders from the foundation, corporate, nonprofit and civic sectors sought to address growing concerns about the lack of school readiness among many children entering kindergarten, and the significant impact this was having now, and would have in the future, on Erie County’s economy and quality of life.
Early childhood research shows that well-focused early childhood education investments can produce high public returns, particularly for children living in families with low income levels. Erie’s Future Fund will provide scholarships to low-income families in neighborhoods with the highest percentage of families with children under 5 living in poverty.
Erie’s Future Fund financially assists families in preparing their children for kindergarten by providing a scholarship to attend quality programs throughout Erie County.
If your 3 or 4 year-old child qualifies for the Erie’s Future Fund scholarship, they will be able to attend an approved high-quality Early Childhood Education Program for 3 half-days a week during the school year, from September through May.
Which program can my child attend?
The scholarship can be used at one of the many high-quality Keystone STARS 3 and 4 programs, or approved rating equivalent (see Scholarship Director for requirements if the site is not STARS 3 or 4). Once your child qualifies for the scholarship, you can choose and enroll them in one of the eligible programs.
Who can apply?
You may apply if your child is at least 3 years old by September 1, meet the income guidelines, and reside in Erie County.
Make your appointment with Kim Beers at 874-0144 ext. 19 today to fill out an application.
Erie’s Future Fund provides scholarships to low-income families to allow children to attend a high-quality Early Childhood Education program at ages 3 and 4.