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.

What happened to the Academic Scholarships POWER-ED program?

The Academic Scholarships POWER-ED wage supplement program was discontinued in 2024 due to funding decisions.

How do I renew my Montessori Scholarships 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.

Are Montessori Scholarships recipients eligible for Incentives?

DECAL Scholars Montessori Program Scholarships recipients are not eligible to receive Incentives until they complete their educational program and have received their credential. You can apply for our Incentives program once you have received your MACTE-accredited Montessori credential (for Infant/toddler and Early Childhood Programs only).

More information can be found here.

Do I need to apply for financial aid?

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

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 $2,496 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 at your Montessori program

You will also receive a support stipend as follows:

$500 per term

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.

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.

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.

What is the substitute stipend and how does it work?

The Substitute Stipend program supports DECAL Scholars Scholarship recipients in the time and effort it takes to further their professional growth. It also encourages employers to advocate for their employees’ educational pursuits, recognizing the beneficial impact of higher-quality care on the children they serve. Through this program, employers of Academic, Montessori, or CDA Training Scholarships recipients can opt to receive a $15-per-hour stipend to help cover the cost of a substitute, offsetting part of the expense of providing paid time off for employees to attend classes, study, complete assignments, or take exams as they commit to their professional development.

To participate, employers must provide their employee with paid time off for the purposes mentioned above. The program offers a standard rate of $15 per hour to help offset expenses incurred while the employee is on paid time off. Each scholarship recipient’s employer is eligible to receive a maximum of $1,500 in substitute stipends for a maximum of 100 hours of paid time off per recipient per semester, term, or CDA class.

To qualify for reimbursement, this accurately completed log must be signed by both the employer and the employee and submitted to support@decalscholars.com. Logs can be submitted monthly or at the end of the semester or CDA class, but all submissions must be received by the end of the final month of classes to be eligible for the stipend.