Foundation accepting scholarship applications
WAYNESBURG – Parents of Greene County children attending approved pre-kindergarten programs or K-12 private/parochial schools may apply for a scholarship to help with tuition costs, but applications are due by Aug. 20.
The Community Foundation of Greene County is accepting pre-kindergarten scholarship and K-12 scholarship applications for the 2013-14 school year. According to Bettie Stammerjohn, executive director of the Community Foundation, the Greene County EITC Pre-K Scholarship program provides children and families with an opportunity to participate in a quality Pre-K program which gives children a good start toward being successful in school and beyond. The EITC K-12 Scholarship helps families choose private or parochial school education for their children.
Families may apply for a scholarship, which is paid directly to an approved preschool provider or private school to help offset tuition for the child.
While eligibility is based on income, the guidelines are generous to provide scholarships for moderate and low-income families. For both scholarships programs, the household income, including all adults living in the house, must not exceed $75,000 with an additional $15,000 for each dependent child (as defined by the IRS). This means a family with one child may not earn more than $90,000 to be eligible for the EITC scholarship programs.
The complete income guidelines are, based on number of dependent children in the household and total of all household income: One child, $90,000; two children, $105,000; three children, $120,000; four children, $135,000.
For the Pre-K scholarships, eligible children must be living in Greene County, be at least 3 years old by the application due date and be registered to attend an approved Pre-K program.
For the K-12 scholarships, eligible children must be living in Greene County and be at least 5 years old and registered to attend a private or parochial school in Pennsylvania.
“This scholarship opportunity offsets the cost of tuition to help make Pre-K programs and private school more affordable, even for middle income families,” said. Stammerjohn. “It really benefits both the families and the pre-k programs in our county.
Applications received after Aug. 20 will be considered in the January 2014 application round for the spring semester.
Application forms are available on the CFGC website at http://www.cfgcpa.org/eitcprek.html, from your preschool provider, or from your private or parochial school.
Children must be registered for preschool before applying for a scholarship. Participating preschool programs are: Building Blocks Preschool, Carmichaels; Greene Valley Christian School, Carmichaels; Little Bears Preschool, Carmichaels; Calvary Chapel Preschool, Fredericktown; Crystal’s Children’s Center, Rogersville; Christian Sandbox Preschool, First Baptist Church, Waynesburg; Here Wee Grow Preschool, Nazarene Church, Waynesburg; Nanny’s Creative Learning Center, Waynesburg; Open Door Christian Preschool, Waynesburg; Rainbow’s End Learning Center, Waynesburg; and St. Ann Catholic Church Preschool, Waynesburg.
Participating private and parochial schools offering school age (K-12 curriculum) include, but are not limited to: Greene Valley Christian School, Carmichaels: Open Door Christian School, Waynesburg; Calvary Chapel, Fredericktown; Giebel Catholic School, Connellsville; and Mt. Moriah Christian School, Smithfield.
The Pre-K scholarship and K-12 scholarship programs are made possible by contributions to the Community Foundation of Greene County from businesses participating in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC).
EITC Pre-K Sponsors in 2012/2013 was UPMC.
EITC K-12 Sponsors include EQT Production, Jordan Auto Parts, Keystone Health Plan (Highmark), and PNC Bank.
For more information about the Pre-K or K-12 Scholarship program, or the EITC program, call the Community Foundation at 724-627-2010, or email at cfgcpa@gmail.com.
Applications are available to download from the CFGC website at http://www.cfgcpa.org and click on the scholarship tab.