Tuition assistance
Clover Montessori School is committed to an economically diverse student body and welcomes the opportunity to connect families with financial support resources. Below you will find resources for financial aid and information about tax relief plans and credits.
Financial Aid
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) can help pay child care costs for families with children younger than 13 and with children with special needs who are younger than 15.
Child care assistance can be used for the time you are working, looking for work, going to school or participating in activities in your approved Minnesota Investment Program (MFIP) or Diversionary Work Program (DWP) employment plan.
Families must be under the income guideline to be eligible. Based on income and family size, families could be required to part of the cost of care.
Families must cooperate with child support if both parents are not in the household.
Program eligibility
There are three Child Care Assistance programs:
MFIP Childcare – You are eligible to apply for CCAP if you are currently on the Minnesota Investment Program (MFIP) or Diversionary Work Program (DWP).
Transition Year Child Care (TY) – You are eligible to apply for CCAP if you have been on the MFIP or DWP programs in the past year.
Basic Sliding Fee Child Care (BSF) – Counties receive limited funds for this program. If the county does not have openings, you will be placed on a waiting list until they have funds to allow families to apply. If your family is placed on the waiting list, the county will contact you when your name comes up.
Income guidelines
The general income guidelines, effective Oct. 2, 2023:
Household Size Annual Income Limit
2 $40,156
3 $49,605
4 $59,053
5 $68,502
6 $77,950
To get an idea of whether your family qualifies for CCAP, you can use the anonymous online screening tool at Bridge to Benefits. Results provided by this tool are not a guarantee of financial assistance. It is only an informational pre-screening tool.
If you are a resident of Dakota County, you may apply online at the MN DHS site. If you would like to apply for CCAP in person, visit the Northern Service Center, 1 Mendota Road West, West St. Paul, MN 55118 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
If you are a resident of Ramsey County, you may apply online at the MN DHS site or you may send applications and verifications via email to FAS.Forms@ramseycounty.us, fax to 651-266-3942 or drop them off in a form drop box at sites throughout the county. See form drop-off & walk-in assistance sites.
Early Learning Scholarships Program
An Early Learning Scholarship can help you pay for high-quality child care and early education to help your child get ready for school. A scholarship must be used at a Parent Aware-Rated program. Parent Aware is a rating tool to help parents select high-quality child care and early education programs. For more information, visit the Parent Aware website.
The Early Learning Scholarships increase access to high-quality early childhood programs for children ages 0 to 4.
Scholarship applications for eligible children who meet one or more of these criteria are given priority:
Child of a teen parent.
Currently in foster care.
In need of child protective services.
Experienced homelessness in the last 24 months. Families must also meet eligibility requirements as outlined in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.165.
At this time, maximum scholarship award amounts vary based on the Parent Aware Star Rating of the early childhood program serving the child, up to the limit (cap) of $12,000-$15,000, based on program type and Parent Aware rating, per scholarship year. The scholarship cap may be subject to increases and will be communicated if changes are made.
To apply for an Early Learning Scholarship – Pathway I, contact the Area Administrator serving your county. List of Area Administrators and eligibility criteria.
Families First of MN
Families First of Minnesota provides early learning scholarships for children under 5 years of age. Scholarship awards are subject to income limits and funding. For more information, call 1-888-450-2773 or 1-507-287-2020.
Minnesota Postsecondary Child Care Grant
Minnesota Postsecondary Child Care Grants are for part-time or full-time student parents who are continuing their education after high school.
Students with low incomes who have children under age 12 in child care (or age 14 for special needs children) while they attend postsecondary classes can qualify for these grants.
To apply, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a separate application for this program from your college’s financial aid office. More information is available on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website.
U.S. Army
Additional financial aid is available from the U.S. Army for families in the Child Care Assistance Program. This assistance is for families with a parent or guardian on active duty in the National Guard or the Army Reserve. To be eligible, families must receive child care assistance and must not live on or near a military base.
After being approved for CCAP, you can call Child Care Aware of America at 800.424.2246 or visit the Army Fee Assistance website for more information about this program.
Tax Relief Plans and Credits
Tax Filing Assistance
Many families who qualify for tax relief and credits do not receive the help because filing taxes can be confusing and intimidating.
From February 1 through April 15, trained volunteers are available at sites around Minnesota to help families with their tax preparation. For more information and to see if you qualify for help, call 800.657.3989 or visit the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Free Tax Preparation Help page.
Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
Some employers offer a Dependent Care Assistance Plan as part of their compensation package. This plan is sometimes called a Flexible Spending Account or a Pre-Tax Dollars Account. Employers may choose to set aside up to $5,000 annually from employees paychecks to help pay for childcare. That amount is not subject to income tax. Employees must provide documentation of childcare expenses.
Ask your employer whether they offer a DCAP and how to enroll.
Child and Dependent Care Credit
The Child and Dependent Care Credit is both a federal and state credit that is available if filers paid for someone to care for their child or other household services. The amount of the credit depends on how much they earn. The care or services must be needed for them to work or look for work.
This tax credit is available for families who pay child care expenses for children under age 13 and meet qualifications. Even families that don’t pay any taxes may qualify for a refund of the state credit, but they must file tax returns.
You can apply for tax credits on your annual Minnesota and Federal tax returns. The credits reduce the amount of tax owed. The Minnesota credit may also increase the amount of a refund. For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Child Care and Dependent Care Credit page or call 800.652.9094.
Federal Earned Income Credit and the Minnesota Working Family Credit
The Earned Income Credit and Minnesota Working Family Credit are for working families with low incomes. These credits reduce the amount of federal and state tax that they owe. Families must meet certain eligibility requirements to claim the credit.
These tax credits are available to qualifying families that file Minnesota and Federal tax returns. Even families that don’t pay any taxes may qualify, but they must file tax returns.
You can apply for tax credits on your annual Minnesota and Federal tax returns. For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Working Family Credit page or call 800.652.9094.