Early Childhood and Family Education Teacher Shortage Grant

The Early Childhood and Family Education Teacher Shortage Grant is administered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, a state agency responsible for advancing postsecondary access and workforce development initiatives across Minnesota. This grant program is established under Minnesota state law and is designed to address workforce shortages in early childhood and family education by supporting postsecondary institutions that prepare future educators. The program reflects a statewide priority to strengthen the pipeline of licensed teachers in early childhood education and related fields, particularly in areas experiencing shortages and inequities. The primary purpose of the grant is to provide financial resources to eligible Minnesota postsecondary institutions so they can offer tuition relief and supportive services to students enrolled in teacher preparation programs. These programs must lead to licensure in early childhood education, parent and family education, preprimary education, or early childhood special education. By reducing financial barriers and enhancing student support systems, the program aims to increase enrollment, retention, and completion rates among students pursuing careers in early childhood education. Grant funds may be used for a range of allowable expenses that directly support students and program implementation. These include personnel costs such as salaries and fringe benefits for staff administering the program, tuition and fee relief for students, direct financial assistance to students, and other student support services such as mentoring, counseling, and career guidance. Additional allowable costs include marketing and outreach efforts to recruit diverse student populations, as well as indirect costs capped at a percentage of personnel expenses. Funds must be used in accordance with state guidelines and cannot be spent on ineligible activities such as fundraising, political contributions, or out-of-state travel. Eligibility for this grant is limited to Minnesota-based postsecondary institutions that offer teacher preparation programs approved by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. These institutions must demonstrate their capacity to deliver the proposed program and meet all administrative and financial requirements outlined in the request for proposals. Students who benefit from the grant must be enrolled in qualifying programs and meet the specified criteria, including enrollment as regular students and participation in eligible licensure pathways. The application process requires institutions to submit a comprehensive proposal through an online grants management system. Required components include a proposal narrative addressing project design, need, evaluation, and equity considerations, as well as a detailed budget and supporting documentation. Applications are evaluated by a review committee using a standardized scoring rubric that assesses project need, design quality, equity commitments, evaluation methods, budget quality, and organizational capacity. Only complete and timely submissions are considered, and applicants may submit only one proposal per institution. The application period opened on April 6, 2026 and will close on May 8, 2026. Technical questions must be submitted prior to a specified deadline, and responses are shared publicly to ensure fairness. Award notifications are expected by late May 2026, with project implementation beginning shortly thereafter once grant agreements are executed. The grant period is expected to run through June 30, 2027. This program is part of an ongoing state effort and is funded on a recurring basis, with annual appropriations supporting continued cycles of funding to address teacher shortages in early childhood education across Minnesota.

Ensure strong alignment with evaluation criteria including documented need for teacher shortages, clear measurable outcomes, and demonstrated commitment to equitable student access.