Financial Relief for Early Educators to Access Higher Education

Research BriefEarly ChildhoodAug 4, 2025

The cost of higher education can be a major obstacle for early educators seeking to pursue higher education, but there are financial relief strategies states are employing to help. This research-to-practice brief outlines five strategies states are using to promote early educators’ access to higher education, as well as opportunities to advance our knowledge of what strategies work best to meet early educators’ needs.

This is a product of the National ECE Workforce Center, a collaboration between Child Trends, Early Education Leaders at UMass Boston, the Delaware Institute of Excellence in Early Childhood at the University of Delaware, and ZERO TO THREE.

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