Stipend Code: LSTP-26-011-LIT
Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential
Congratulations on successfully completing the Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential!
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Stipend Eligibility
If you are not a child care personnel, PreK/VPK Instructor, early learning instructional staff, or select ELC personnel you are not eligible for the stipend at this time.
Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential Completions officially ending between July 1, 2026 – May 18, 2027:
- Pre-kindergarten instructors as specified in ss. 1002.55, 1002.61, and 1002.63, F.S.; and child care personnel as defined in ss. 402.302(3) and 1002.88(1)(e), F.S., who work at a private child care facility licensed under s. 402.305, F.S., family child care home licensed under s. 402.313, F.S., large family child care home licensed under s. 402.3131, F.S., public or nonpublic school exempt from licensure under s. 402.3025, F.S., faith-based child care provider exempt from licensure under s. 402.316, F.S., before or after-school program described in s. 402.305, F.S., or a child development program that is accredited by a national accrediting body and operates on a military installation that is certified by the United States Department of Defense. Including pre-kindergarten instructors and directors of facilities and providers holding a VPK and/or SR contract and child care personnel who work at DCF licensed, registered, or exempt from licensure providers.
- Early Learning Coalition Personnel, prioritizing early learning personnel physically working with a provider such as instructors, directors, and coaches employed by an Early Learning Coalition defined in s. 1002.83, F.S., or RCMA; including subcontractors and designees of an Early Learning Coalition or RCMA providing coaching or technical support to an early learning provider as verified by the Early Learning Coalition or RCMA.
- HIPPY Direct Service Personnel, prioritizing individuals physically providing home visits, parent education, or child-focused instructional services through a Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) network site. Eligible personnel may include personnel providing home visits, parent educators, and site-level coordinators who directly deliver the HIPPY curriculum or conduct in-person parent coaching or home visits, as verified by the local HIPPY network site.
- Submit the stipend application to the Lastinger Center within 30 days of course completion and no later than June 1, 2027, whichever comes first.
- Successfully complete mastery of the Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential between July 1, 2026 – May 18, 2027.
Stipend Application Guidelines
Micro-Credential stipend applications for programs officially completed between July 1, 2026 and May 18, 2027:
- The application for stipends will close at midnight on June 1, 2027.
- All submissions will be reviewed in the order they are received.
- Learners can only earn one (1) stipend for completing one of the three Literacy Micro-Credentials (Emergent, Elementary, or Secondary).
- Learners who have already received one (1) Literacy Micro-Credential stipend will not receive another stipend. Those who have been previously paid a Literacy Micro-Credential stipend for courses will not be eligible to receive a second stipend for the completion of an additional Literacy Micro-Credential.
- Stipends are not guaranteed and are dependent upon budget availability and eligibility. Stipend processing may take up to 8 weeks to process after the official course end date, grading period, final grade, mastery completion, and submitting an accurate stipend application. Please understand stipend timelines are an estimation and processing times vary by participant.
Payment Distribution
The stipend distribution method will be via JP Morgan Concourse (ACH/Zelle), using the email address you provided in your application.
The JP Morgan Concourse payment system supports both ACH (Direct Deposit) and Zelle payment options and requires only an email for transactions. There is no pre-payment account creation for Concourse. Once your stipend is sent, you will receive an email from donotreply@jpmorgan.com with instructions to register and accept the payment.
You will have 14 days to claim your payment once it is sent before the registration link expires. If the link expires, we will attempt to resend the payment to the same email address you provided. To avoid delays, please accept your payment promptly.
The University of Florida is not responsible for any erroneous payment information. You will not be asked to share your banking information with UF.
Each year, the University of Florida will enforce a Fiscal Year-end pause on all financial activity in June/July. This means stipend payment distributions are expected to pause in mid-June and return with the new fiscal beginning. If you are an eligible participant and not paid the stipend by this pause, your stipend will be distributed once the University resumes financial activity, estimated in mid to late July.
Note: UF anticipates moving to a new participant payment system in 2027. Participants whose payments are issued in 2027 should be aware that current payment options and procedures may change. Please refer to the latest instructions provided by our stipends team.
Stipends Application & Employment Verification
All applications will be reviewed in the order received by our Financial Services Team for eligibility determination according to the requirements. Our team will then reach out with next steps as needed.
At the end of the application, you must upload your most recent pay slip as verification of your employment at an eligible early learning workplace, provider, school, or facility.
Contact your supervisor, director, or school administration if you need help downloading your paystub. Please carefully follow the file upload instructions on the form to ensure your application can be processed.
Recommended paystub file types: PDF, PNG, JPG.
To be eligible for the stipend, you must successfully complete mastery of the micro-credential and submit your stipend application within 30 days of course completion and no later than June 1, 2027, whichever comes first. Stipends are only available for courses officially ending after July 1, 2026. Please note, courses are only considered complete, and grading is only considered final, after the official end date of the course. If the official end date of your course is not between July 1, 2026 and May 18, 2027, you may not be eligible for a stipend at this time.
By completing the application, you agree to the terms of payment and eligibility upon completion of all requirements, aiding in verifying your eligibility, and that your employer must be eligible at the time of completion.
Stipend applications will open for FY26-27 in November 2026.
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