The preschool scholarship application period for the 2024-2025 school year opens July 1, 2024
PARENT INFORMATION for 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County is approved as a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This designation allows us to provide scholarship assistance for pre-kindergarten programs to children whose families are in financial need.
Please read carefully as United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County now has two sources of preschool scholarship funding for families. Income eligible families will complete one application for both funding sources. Please note; however, that a family will receive only 50% preschool tuition assistance regardless of the funding source.
The following information is provided to parents/guardians who may wish to apply for this tuition assistance for the 2024-2025 school year.
Preschool Scholarship Information
Paul and Patricia Strickler Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship
This preschool scholarship is named in honor of Paul and Patricia Strickler, longtime community volunteers and supporters of the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County and its early childhood initiative, Success By 6. This funding is provided through a donor who wishes to honor Paul and Pat’s service to the Carlisle community.
Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Preschool Scholarship
ELIGIBILITY:
A child must be 3 to 6 years old and enrolled in preschool program for the 2024-2025 school year.
A child must remain enrolled in a preschool program in order to remain eligible for this tuition assistance.
A child must attend one of the following pre-approved Keystone STAR 3 or STAR 4 preschool programs as listed: 1) Bethel Preschool and Day Care, 2) Bright Beginnings Child Care of Carlisle, 3) Carlisle Early Education Center, 4) Dickinson College Children’s Center, 5) Light Lights Learning Center, 6) Noah’s Ark Preparatory Center, and, 7) Wee Little Lambs Early Learning Center.
FAMILY ELIGIBILITY:
- A parent must live or work in the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County’s service area. This includes the following communities: Carlisle, Boiling Springs, Mt. Holly Springs, New Kingstown, Plainfield and Newville.
- Scholarships are based on financial need. Only families who meet specific income eligibility requirements will be considered for this tuition assistance.
- Parents are not eligible if the family qualifies for PA state child care subsidies (known as Child Care Works). Parents may contact Community Connections for Children at 717-210-3334 to determine qualifications for this program.
- Parents will need to provide 2023 Income tax documents, 2023 W-2 Forms, and change of income documentation for 2024, if applicable, for all household income earners.
- EITC Total Household Income: Parents must provide total household income for 2023. Total household income should not have exceeded $105,183 plus $18,514 added for each dependent for the EITC scholarship.
- Strickler Scholarship Total Household Income: Parents must provide total household income for 2023. Total household income cannot exceed $75,000 and there is no additional income allowance for dependents.
- Families who receive the Strickler Scholarship will be asked to write a letter of thanks to the private donor in May, 2025. The donor would like to know how this tuition assistance positively impacted your family and your preschool child’s readiness for kindergarten.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- Scholarship application is available at https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4KVC6 Parents must use this link to access the United Way application. New users will create an account.
- On-line application opens on Monday, July 1, 2024 and must be submitted by Wednesday, July 31, 2024 (11:59 PM).
- FACTS Management online application system will assess the applicant a $40.00 application fee.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions regarding the preschool scholarship program, please contact:
Karen M. Quinn, Ed.D. | Director of Success By 6 | (p) 717-243-4805 or Email: [email protected]
If you need assistance with the FACTS Management system, please call:
- Customer Service at 866-315-9262 for computer and technical issues
- Parent Line at 866-441-4637 for issues related to application information