Here are a few reminders for participant programs allocated Quality First scholarships for State Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025):
- Increased scholarship rates will continue
Things First’s (FTF) state Board voted to raise the reimbursement rates for Quality First Scholarships to align with the 2021 cost of quality study beginning on July 1, 2024. This will help maintain quality environments and continue the increased reimbursement rates provided through federal relief funding.
Previously, an increased reimbursement rate was made possible by contracting with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to leverage temporary federal pandemic relief funding for DES-contracted Quality First programs, but that funding ends on June 30, 2024.
- The total number of available scholarships has decreased
In State Fiscal Year 2024, an estimated $42.4 million was used from the federal pandemic relief funds to support additional QF childcare scholarships. This resulted in approximately 1,300 slots for more children to attend quality early learning programs. This funding ends June 30, 2024.
FTF has maintained its $40 million+ budget for scholarships. However, because FTF is using these funds to reimburse the cost of quality paid for by federal funding that is ending, the total number of scholarships used by children will decrease, on average, by about 50%.
Providers received their SFY25 Scholarship Allocation notification on May 10, 2024. The statewide allocations from SFY24 to SFY25 have decreased by over 3,000 slots – a loss of 1,300 DES-funded and 1,700 FTF-funded slots.
- Support families in the following ways
Child care is one of the biggest expenses many families face. In addition to Quality First Scholarships, other support is available to families. Share this scholarship letter with families in your program or the talking points below.
- Encourage them to apply for DES Child Care Assistance. However, funding is limited and families may be placed on a waiting list for assistance.
- Connect them with Child Care Resource and Referral to find child care programs, which may offer reduced rates for enrolling more than one child or discounts based on family income, employer and more. They can also find information about tax credits and other types of assistance.
- Encourage them to find their local Head Start to determine eligibility.