Oregon! Ready to Learn is the umbrella under which most of OCF’s early childhood activities take place – including grants for early literacy and parenting programs, scholarships for care providers, research, and convening of forums for information sharing. If your program does not fit the guidelines below, it may be eligible for other grant programs. Please refer to the Community Grants program on OCF’s Web site.

Read the latest Early Childhood Newsletter (PDF)

Scholarship Programs

John and Betty Gray Community College Scholarship Program

Scholarships are available through 16 of Oregon’s 17 community colleges, for individuals who are pursuing a degree or certificate in early childhood education and are committed to a career in the field. The 10-year, $150,000-per-year program assists approximately 160-170 Oregon early childhood students annually. Scholarship amounts and eligibility requirements vary according to the institution. Information about the Gray scholarships is available through the early childhood education departments and/or scholarship offices of each community college.

John and Betty Gray Training and Certification Scholarship Program

Portland State University’s Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education (OCCD) administers the John and Betty Gray Early Childhood Statewide Scholarship Program. Financial assistance is available to both family child care providers and center-based providers for training, conference attendance, accreditation, credentialing, translation and verification of out-of-country early childhood degrees, and other professional development. This is Oregon’s only statewide scholarship program for child care provider professional development. Interested individuals should contact OCCD at www.centerline.pdx.edu/programs/scholarship/index.html.

Early Childhood Literacy and Parenting Grant Programs

John and Betty Gray Parent Education and Literacy for Young Children Grants

John and Betty Gray Early Childhood Grants are intended to build sustainable expertise in proven parent education programs and literacy programs for young children. Competitive grants are awarded annually in two focus areas:

1. Parent Education programs for parents with children age 0 to 8.
2. Literacy for Young Children programs for children age 0 to 8 and their parents and/or child care providers. Libraries must be a significant partner in early literacy programs.

Since 2003, 41 projects have received funding totaling over $1.3 million.

Oregon! Ready to Learn Early Literacy Grants

The goal of these grant programs is to nurture literacy and language development in children age 0 to 5 through education and support of parents, guardians and child care providers. Since 1999, grants totaling nearly $1.6 million have been awarded to 54 projects spearheaded by community nonprofit and public organizations in all parts of Oregon. Projects funded must also address children’s social and emotional development. The three focus areas of Oregon! Ready to Learn Early Literacy Grants are:

1. Mentoring/training programs for child care providers, to enhance understanding and skills related to early literacy and language development.
2. Training and education on early literacy and language development for parents, offered in conjunction with other services, such as early childhood education, home visiting programs, and well-baby visits to health clinics.
3. School-based, interactive education and training programs in early literacy and language development for parents and their children age 0 to 5.

Overview of the Grant Application Process

The following links offer lists of the early childhood initiative grants awarded in February 2008:

• John and Betty Gray Parent Education and Literacy for Young Children Grant Programs 2008
• Oregon! Ready to Learn Early Literacy Grants 2008