Business
Rasmussen University Announces Alliance with Southeast Children's Fund to Advance Education for Early Childhood Education Providers through DC LEAD Scholarship Program
DC LEAD Scholars can now pursue their early childhood education degree at Rasmussen University with no out-of-pocket costs WASHINGTON, May 2, 2023
About this update from American Public Education, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"DC LEAD Scholars can now pursue their early childhood education degree at Rasmussen University with no out-of-pocket costs\nWASHINGTON, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen University today announced an alliance with the Southeast Children's Fund (SCF) and its DC Leading Educators toward Advanced Degrees (DC LEAD) program to provide scholarships to help childcare providers earn their degrees. Through this new alliance, DC LEAD scholars can now earn their early childhood education degree (ECE) at Rasmussen University fully online and with no out-of-pocket costs1.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nUnder regulations set by Washington, D.C.'s state education agency, most childcare providers must have an associate's degree by the end of the year to continue working. The DC LEAD program, which launched in summer 2022, supports childcare providers who work in our Nation's Capital with the knowledge, skills and credentials they need to improve child development program services and deliver high-quality care.\nRasmussen University is one of seven higher education institutions in which program scholars can apply their scholarship and can do so immediately.\n\"We're proud of our longstanding history of offering early childhood education programs and are pleased to be one of the few options for DC LEAD scholars to pursue their degree online,\" said Dr. Mary Muhs, academic program director for Early Childhood Education at Rasmussen University. \"And with quarterly start dates, these scholars can start their program with us sooner and get on the path to receiving an advanced education.\"\nAbout the DC LEAD Program \nThe DC LEAD scholarship program is offered through the Southeast Children's Fund on behalf of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). The scholarship covers the cost of tuition and books for program scholars as they pursue an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Childcare providers who work in a child development facility in the District of Columbia that is licensed by OSSE are eligible to apply for the scholarship.\n\"Our founder, Frances J. Rollins, is committed to providing more opportunities that help ECE educators become well rounded individuals, and the DC LEAD program is a continuation of her work,\" said Kamren Rollins, chief operating officer, Southeast Children's Fund. \"Most of our...