Childcare & Academic Assistance
Making childcare and academic support more affordable for local families.
Reliable childcare helps children learn, grow, and participate while giving caregivers the stability they need to work, seek employment, and manage family responsibilities.
ResourceWest’s Childcare & Academic Assistance Program helps eligible families pay a portion of the cost of participating in childcare and academic assistance programs.
What the Program Provides
Scholarships cover 50% of tuition for one eligible program period per application. Each child may receive financial assistance for a maximum of two calendar years. Awards are subject to program requirements and available funding.
Participating Programs
- Hopkins Schools Kids & Company
- Hopkins Preschool Extended Day
- Minnetonka Explorers
- Minnetonka Junior Explorers
- Minnetonka Preschool
Who Can Apply
Families must meet program income requirements and have an eligible child. General eligibility includes:
- The child lives in Hopkins, Minnetonka, Excelsior, Shorewood, Deephaven, Woodland, or Greenwood.
- Household income is at or below 47% of the State Median Income, or the family participates in an approved state or federally funded assistance program.
- The child is in preschool through fifth grade.
How to Show Income Eligibility
Families may qualify by providing proof of participation in an approved public assistance program, such as free or reduced-price meals, Minnesota Health Care Programs, WIC, SNAP, or MFIP, or by providing household income documentation.
How to Apply
Complete the Childcare & Academic Assistance application and submit the required supporting documents to ResourceWest. Applications may be submitted to a ResourceWest case manager, mailed, or delivered to our office.
Families are notified by email about the outcome of their application.
Keeping Your Scholarship
Families must enroll their child in the eligible program within the required enrollment period, pay the portion of tuition not covered by the scholarship, and maintain regular attendance. Scholarships are subject to available funding and annual renewal requirements. Each child may receive a scholarship for a maximum of two calendar years.
