Academic Scholarships – College

The Academic Scholarships POWER-ED wage supplement program will end at the conclusion of the Fall 2024 semester.

DECAL Scholars Academic Scholarships recipients (earning college credentials/degrees and the Montessori Program Credential) will receive one final $1,000 POWER-ED wage supplement for fall of 2024. There is not a separate application for this final POWER-ED payment.

The CDA Training POWER-ED program will remain.

Yes, there is a minimum GPA requirement for our Academic Scholarships program if you would like to renew your scholarship each semester.

For Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC), Technical College Diploma (TCD), and Associate Degree programs, the requirement is a 2.0 GPA. For Bachelor’s Degree programs, the requirement is a 2.5 GPA.

Academic Scholarships cannot pay a past amount due with a college or university. The student must settle their debt with the college or university before they can become eligible to apply and receive Academic Scholarships.

If you are not eligible for Pell or other financial aid because your student loans are in default, then you cannot receive Academic Scholarships. You must submit proof that your loans are no longer in default before you can receive Academic Scholarships. To find out more information about managing loans in default, click here.

The Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) is an innovative service provided by Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning for the early care and education workforce. It allows you to develop a profile of your career in early care and education including employment history, training hours and credentials/degrees earned.

Registering is easy! You can sign up immediately, even if you have not earned a credential or degree. Click here to download your free guide to creating a GaPDS account. To learn more about the GaPDS or to create your own GaPDS account visit gapds.decal.ga.gov.

If you have questions or need technical support, contact the GaPDS at 404-334-6461 (866-258-7737 outside the metro Atlanta area) or email gapds@decal.ga.gov.

As FAFSA processes large volumes of applications, we understand that it may take some time to receive notice of award or denial from financial aid. Please complete your Academic Scholarships application and attach your FAFSA Submission Summary with your application. Once your financial aid is reflected in your account statement for the term (or you have received a denial notice), please upload that information to your DECAL Scholars account, or email it to support@decalscholars.com.

The one-step method of determining the financial aid available to you is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online or with assistance through the financial aid office of the educational institution you plan to attend. Upon notification of the outcome, your school will determine your eligibility for both federal and state aid (i.e., HOPE Grant, HOPE Scholarship and Pell Grant). To track your academic eligibility for HOPE, click here.

To be considered for funding through the Academic Scholarships program, you must apply for financial aid and submit proof of the award or denial (except for students earning their Montessori program credential).

If you have already earned a Bachelor’s degree in another field, you will not be eligible to receive any more funding from HOPE or Pell. Simply submit a copy of your diploma or an unofficial transcript with your Academic Scholarships application. Or, if you’ve maxed out Pell, please submit documentation of that.

Once approved for Academic Scholarships, you will receive a support stipend each semester you’re enrolled, even if tuition and mandatory fees are covered in full by financial aid.

Renewal is easy if you’ve received Academic Scholarships for a previous term (within the past year), maintain your eligible employment status, and remain at the same college or university. You don’t need to fill out new application – simply submit the following documents in the timeframes listed.

60 days prior to the next term or before the last day of classes:

• Your grades upon completion of the prior term (or Good Standing Letter from Montessori Credential Program).
• Copy of schedule of classes for the next term.
• Copies of two recent pay stubs reflecting your name, the name of your employer, and your gross (before deductions) wages. Family child care learning home providers and owners who do not pay themselves W2 wages submit a copy of last year’s Schedule C or other federal tax form documenting net business income.

Once per year:

• Updated financial aid documentation (if eligible for FAFSA (HOPE and Pell))

Please note: You must meet the minimum GPA requirement to qualify for Scholarships renewal. The requirement is a 2.0 GPA for TCC, TCD, and Associate Degree programs. The requirement is a 2.5 GPA for Bachelor’s Degree programs.

If you’ve changed employment or have transferred to a different college or university from a previous semester in which you were receiving Academic Scholarships, please submit a new application.

As long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for our Academic Scholarships program, you can continue to apply each time you are working towards a new credential or degree.

If you are enrolled in two different educational programs (for example, you are earning your CDA credential and Associate degree at the same time), you can apply to our CDA Scholarships program and Academic Scholarships program at the same time.

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

• 80% of tuition and mandatory fees after financial aid (HOPE or Pell – if eligible) if you are enrolled in a public institution.
• A maximum of $2,496 per semester toward the cost of tuition and mandatory fees after financial aid (HOPE or Pell – if eligible) if you are enrolled in a private institution
• A maximum of $2,496 per semester toward the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible Montessori Program (Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood Education only).

Tuition and fees are paid directly to the college or university.

You will also receive a support stipend as follows:

• $250 per semester for 1-3 credit hours
• $500 per semester for 4(+) credit hours
• Infant/Toddler Educational Program: $500 per semester for 1-3 credit hours
• Infant/Toddler Educational Program: $1,000 per semester for 4(+) credit hours
• Family Child Care Providers: $750 per semester for 1-3 credit hours
• Family Child Care Providers: $1,500 per semester for 4(+) credit hours
• Montessori Program Credential: $500 per semester

The support stipend is paid directly to the applicant. These funds are released after the end of the drop/add period each semester.

The substitute stipend program is available to employers of DECAL Scholars Scholarships recipients so Scholarships recipients can have paid time off (PTO) to attend class, study, or complete assignments. To participate in the substitute stipend program, employers of Scholarships recipients must give the Scholarships recipient paid time off (PTO) to attend class, study, or prepare for class. In return, the employer will receive a stipend of $15/hour to cover the cost of substitute teachers while the Scholarships recipient is away from the classroom. Each employer can receive a maximum of $1,500 in substitute stipends per semester for each Scholarships recipient, in exchange for the Scholarships recipient to receive up to 100 hours of PTO. It is ultimately up to the employer to decide whether they will allow their employees to take part in this program. The employer must also determine how many hours of PTO will be granted to the employee in exchange for the $15/hour stipend.

Scholarships Paid Time Off Logs must be completed, signed, and submitted to support@decalscholars.com by the end of the last month of class to be considered for reimbursement.

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. Please do not send documents as links.

ALL documents must be received by the last day of classes in the semester of which you are applying, to be considered for eligibility.

The following documentation must be sent to DECAL Scholars in addition to your application:

• Copies of two recent paystubs reflecting the name of your employer, your name and gross and net 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.
• Copy of your Submission Summary from financial aid and then your award/denial letter once available.
• Your schedule of classes.
• Copy of your Professional Development System (GaPDS) profile reflecting your GaPDS number, the name of your current employer, and a “Pending” or “Active” status.
• Copy of the front and back of a secure and verifiable document.