The must meet one of these 2 criteria for the fellowship
Eligibility Criteria
Policy Track Applicants:
- Must be currently employed as an early educator or employed in an organization working on early care and education, education or public policy, labor/employment, or a closely related field.
- At least one policy fellowship will be designated for a candidate who is currently working as an early educator (e.g., center-based classroom teacher or assistant, family child care provider or assistant, preschool teacher or assistant) or is in a related role (e.g., director, instructional coach) but has been an educator within the past three years.
- There is no specific education requirement for policy track applicants and applicants need not be enrolled in graduate school.
- While preference will be given to applicants who are currently early educators or in a related role, individuals currently employed in ECE-related organizations are also eligible, regardless of whether they work directly with children.
Research Track Applicants:
- Must be currently enrolled in some level of graduate study (master’s or doctoral), at the time of the application and throughout the duration of the fellowship, in the field of early care and education, education or public policy, labor/employment, or a closely related field. If you plan to graduate in December 2025, you are eligible to apply.
- Must demonstrate foundational research skills via completion of at least one graduate-level class in research methods or statistics.
- Individuals currently residing in the United States on F1, J1, M1, or similar student visas are welcome to apply. However, this fellowship opportunity does not provide sponsorship.
While applicants may find themselves eligible for both tracks, we strongly discourage submitting applications for both. We recommend that you carefully consider which track aligns more closely with your expertise, experience, and skills, as well as which will best support your professional aspirations.