HAWAIʻI EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR STIPEND PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM

In recognition of the importance of and commitment to the development of a strong statewide early childhood educator workforce, the state of Hawaiʻi has created the opportunity to provide individuals enrolled in a certificate, degree, or license program in early childhood education, including those in the Hawaiian language medium, within the University of Hawaiʻi system, with a stipend opportunity per Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 302L-9.

The recipient understands that this stipend, if awarded, is part of the State of Hawaiʻi’s effort to support Hawaiʻi’s early childhood workforce.

Immediately following completion of a certificate, degree, or license program, stipend recipients shall provide early care and education services directly to children from birth through five years of age for at least two consecutive years in one of the early learning systems described in HRS § 302L-2, including Hawaiian language medium and Hawaiian immersion settings and early learning settings at charter schools.

INSTRUCTIONS AND ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY (please read before applying):

Participation in this program is voluntary. By submitting this application, the applicant agrees to allow the University of Hawai'i to share information with the Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) to verify continued eligibility for tuition stipends, passing grade of C in courses, and completion of my program (certificate, degree, or license).
To qualify, the applicant must currently be enrolled in a generalist certificate, degree, or license program in early childhood education, including those in the Hawaiian language medium, within the University of Hawaiʻi system.
Applicants shall apply by deadlines established by the Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program. Applicants will be unable to apply through other UH portals, financial aid offices or programs.

BASIC CRITERIA

Major: Early Childhood Education Generalist (Early Childhood Education, PK-3, or PK-3/K-6) certificate, degree, or license program including Hawaiian language medium.

Enrollment Status: Full-time or Part-time

Campus: Hawaii CC, Honolulu CC, Kauai CC, Maui College, UH West Oahu, UH Hilo, UH Mānoa

Level: Undergraduate or Graduate

Additional requirements:
Coursework must be early childhood-related and must be taken from a UH system Early Childhood Education generalist program. The format of the coursework from UH may include face-to-face, on-line or hybrid (partially face-to-face and on-line) models and is subject to course and format availability.

Failure to complete the coursework with a passing grade of C may jeopardize future opportunities to participate in this stipend program.

Failure to complete a certificate, degree, or license program or to satisfy the work requirements, stipend funds shall be repaid as follows: For each year less than the designated number of years that a stipend recipient does not meet the work requirements, the recipient shall repay a proportionate percentage of the total stipend funds received. Stipend repayment must meet the terms and conditions set by EOEL. The stipend recipient may also be subject to associated collection fees.

This program shall be limited to the tuition and student fees related to the early childhood coursework that has been approved. The applicant understands that he/she will be responsible for any additional fees/costs incurred when enrolling in coursework in this program. EOEL will not be responsible for any other costs incurred.

Immediately following completion of a certificate, degree, or license program, stipend recipients shall provide early care and education services directly to children from birth through five years of age for at least two consecutive years in one of the early learning systems described in HRS § 302L-2, including Hawaiian language medium and Hawaiian immersion settings and early learning settings at charter schools.