Montessori Scholarships

Georgia’s educational assistance program for early childhood educators pursuing their Montessori program credential

Montessori Scholarships provide tuition assistance and a support stipend to early childhood educators who are pursuing their Montessori program credential at a MACTE-accredited Montessori Program in Georgia (infant/toddler and early childhood programs of study only).

Read our frequently asked questions

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Applications for Montessori Scholarships will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for a limited time, while funds are available.
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Application Windows

Spring Semester 2026

Open: January 15, 2026

Close: March 15, 2026

Summer Semester 2026

Open: May 15, 2026

Close: July 15, 2026

Fall Semester 2026

Open: August 15, 2026

Close: October 15, 2026

Am I eligible?

To qualify for our Montessori Scholarships program, you must meet the following criteria:

Legal Status

You’re one of the following:

  • United States citizen
  • Legal permanent resident
  • Qualified alien

Employment

  • You must have maintained 6 months of continuous employment in one of the following paid roles (unpaid hours do not qualify):
    • Teacher
    • Assistant teacher
    • Floater
    • Director
    • Assistant director
    • Owner
  • You must work a minimum of 30 hours per week if your employer is a(n):
    • Child care learning center licensed by DECAL or the Department of Defense
    • Family child care learning home licensed by DECAL
    • Exempt Georgia Head Start center
    • Georgia Lottery-funded Pre-K program in a public school
  • You must work a minimum of 15 hours per week if your employer is an:
    • After school program licensed by DECAL

Education

You must apply and be accepted into a MACTE-accredited Montessori Program in Georgia,* in one of the following programs of study:
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Infant/Toddler
*At this time, only Covered Bridge Creativity Inc (CBCInc Training), Grace Montessori Teacher Education and Montessori Teacher Education Institute of Atlanta meet this requirement.

Download:

Your guide to Montessori Scholarships

Our team created a handout that has all of the important details about Montessori Scholarships on one page. Feel free to download, print it out, and share it.

Download Montessori Scholarships Guide

What is Montessori?

Montessori is a type of school founded on the Montessori method of education – a type of educational method that involves children’s natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills.

Click here to learn more about Montessori.

Montessori Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions

a

Could my support stipend be taxable?

Yes, your support stipend could be considered taxable income. If you receive an IRS Form 1099, you must report the amount as income on your tax return.

Please contact a tax professional with any questions you have about how to report this on your taxes.

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How do I renew my Montessori Scholarship each term?

You can renew your Academic Scholarship for your Montessori program if you maintain an eligible employment status and good standing with your educational institution. 

No earlier than 60 days prior to the start of your next term, submit a renewal application. Please include the following documents (if there isn’t a designated upload category for any of these documents, you can upload them as “Additional Documents” under the “Documents” section of your application):

  • Copy of Proof of Enrollment and Good Standing Letter from your educational institution
  • Copies of two recent paystubs reflecting the name of your employer, your name, and gross and net year-to-date wages. If you are a Family Child Care Learning Home or a Director/Owner and do not pay yourself W-2 wages, you should submit a copy of last year’s Schedule C, Schedule K, or other federal tax form documenting net business income. If your paystubs do not meet these requirements, we may ask for additional information.

Montessori program terms are defined for the DECAL Scholarships program as follows: January-May, June-July, and August-December.

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Do I need to apply for financial aid?

No. State and federal financial aid is not offered for MACTE-accredited Montessori Program Credentials.

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How much will I receive from the Montessori Scholarships program?

If you meet the eligibility requirements each term you are enrolled, you will receive Scholarships funds as follows:

  • A maximum of $1,500 per term (Montessori program terms are defined for the DECAL Scholarships program as follows: January-May, June-July, and August-December) toward the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other scholarships at your Montessori program

You will also receive a support stipend as follows:

  • $150 per term
a

Can I apply if I work in an administrative position at a Montessori school?

Only if your administrative position is as an assistant director, director, or owner.

For the full list of eligible roles, please refer to the eligibility requirements at the top of this webpage.

a

Which educational institutions are eligible for Montessori Scholarships?

MACTE-accredited programs that meet the requirements for our Scholarships program are listed as follows: Covered Bridge Creativity Inc (CBCInc Training), Montessori Teacher Education Institute of Atlanta and Grace Montessori Teacher Education.

a

What does MACTE-accredited mean?

MACTE is the international standard setting and accrediting body for Montessori teacher education. MACTE was granted initial recognition by the U.S. Department of Education in 1995. The Montessori Teacher Education Institute of Atlanta and Grace Montessori hold their accredited status for their Early Childhood and Infant Toddler certification course levels from the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). Click here to learn more.

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Which supporting document formats will DECAL Scholars accept?

It is important that you send all supporting documents at the time of completing your application to avoid any delays in processing.
DECAL Scholars accepts legible PDFs, screenshots, photo copies, scans, and photos (only in JPG format, not HEIC). Please do not send documents as links.

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What is a Montessori Program Credential?

The Montessori Program Credential is a certification awarded by an eligible MACTE-accredited training program. MACTE-accredited programs that meet the requirements for our Scholarships program are listed as follows: Covered Bridge Creativity Inc (CBCInc Training), Montessori Teacher Education Institute of Atlanta and Grace Montessori Teacher Education. The credential is recognized by Montessori schools and is valuable for a teacher that is working or desires to work at a Montessori school.

Learn more about Montessori Program Credential Scholarships here.

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What documents must be uploaded with my Montessori Scholarships application?

The following documents must be uploaded with your application:

  • Acceptance letter
  • Copy of your Georgia Professional Development System Profile – click here to learn more about GaPDS
  • Copy of the front and back of a secure and verifiable document – click here to see the list
  • Copies of two recent paystubs reflecting the name of your employer, your name, and gross and net year-to-date wages. If you are a Family Child Care Learning Home or a Director/Owner and do not pay yourself W-2 wages, you should submit a copy of last year’s Schedule C, Schedule K, or other federal tax form documenting net business income. If your paystubs do not meet these requirements, we may ask for additional information.
  • (Optional) Enrollment contract
  • (Optional) Course schedule