New Hire Tuition Reimbursement Grant
The Grant is being provided to recent Early Childhood Education Program graduates who have completed 320 hours working as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in the early years and child care sector within Niagara.
Purpose
The Grant is being made available as a recruitment and retention strategy to attract and retain ECEs that graduated from an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Program in Spring 2026. The Grant is intended to provide new graduates:
- An incentive to work as a ECE in the early years and child care sector within Niagara;
- An opportunity to be financially rewarded for educational achievements;
- Support new graduates in transitioning to a professional environment after graduation.
The Grant will provide up to $2,500 in funding for eligible graduates who complete 320 hours working as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in the early years and child care sector in Niagara.
Eligibility
- Be employed in a centre that holds a Purchase of Service Agreement with Niagara Region Children’s Services and is a licensed child care centre enrolled in CWELCC, exclusively serves children aged 6-12, or an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.
- A Spring 2026 ECE program graduate.
- Completed a minimum of 320 hours of paid employment as an ECE between May 1, 2026 to December 1, 2026 in the early years and child care sector in Niagara. The eligible hours of 320 can be completed with more than one service provider.
- Only one application is accepted, and each staff is eligible for the grant only once.
- Where a staff decided to leave employment in the sector prior to completion of 320 hours, they are ineligible for the grant.
- Applications will be accepted from September 1 to December 1, 2026. Applications received after December 1, 2026 will not be considered.
Tuition reimbursement made possible by Niagara Region Children's Services.