The Ontario Early Childhood Educators’ (ECE) Grant program is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Federal Government’s Early Childhood Workforce Agreement in efforts to reduce the shortage of qualified Early Childhood Educators within the childcare sector and to fund professional development opportunities for Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE).
Ontario’s Action Plan is committed to increasing the number of RECEs working in licensed childcare as well as investing in their professional development. Our program will help fill this gap while supporting the qualification of ECEs across the province.
Embark on your journey to ECE, where together, we can make a lasting impact on shaping a brighter future for the childcare sector in Ontario.
Since 2007, we have assigned over 27,001 grants to successful applicants, who have completed one or more of the available 71 child care programs, affiliated to 25 colleges spread across the province of Ontario.
Watch the program overview video
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Financially supporting Early Childhood Educators in Ontario, to obtain their ECE Qualifications Upgrade diploma or Leadership certification. There are 4 academic program types available throughout post-secondary schools across Ontario.
Financial support for ECE Qualification Upgrades are available to eligible applicants in the form of an education grant, travel grant, and training allowance. Part-time support is also available through education and travel grants, specific to the ECE Leadership certification.
Applications are processed on a first come, first serve basis, once all documents required to process an application have been received. Funding is based on the number of applications received, and available funding per semester.
There is limited funding available through these programs, and therefore individuals are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.