Scholarships for Working Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Maya Monet, a single mom of a two-year-old in Denver, was scrambling to find an affordable child care solution that allowed her to work and support her young son, until she learned about Westwood Academy’s scholarship program earlier this year. “When we found Westwood academy, I was at a loss for what to do in a situation where child care seemed impossible to attain.”
Westwood Academy, a Level IV quality-rated early childhood education center serving families on the Denver-Lakewood border, recently announced a scholarship program offering discounted tuition of $500-$850 per month to families with household incomes under $75,000 annually. The initiative comes in response to the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program's year-long funding freeze, which has left over 11,000 families across the state without access to critical tuition assistance for child care.
The scholarship program aims to provide relief to working families who have been locked out of state-funded child care support, ensuring their children can continue receiving high-quality early education while their parents remain in the workforce.
"Without access to affordable, quality child care, these parents cannot work and contribute to our local economy," said RB Fast, owner of Westwood Academy. "I've created this scholarship program to shine a light on the issue of child care funding and encourage local and state leaders to prioritize funding tuition assistance for families in Colorado."
The program serves a diverse community of families of different ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, and family structures. Parent Maya Monet says, “Westwood Academy’s scholarship has single handedly made me, a single mom with no family help, able to work and provide for my son. The staff has been amazing and has really helped my little one grow into the sweet and smart young boy I know today. I have a community where my son and I feel cared for and where I know my son loves to be and feels safe. I will be forever grateful for the kindness and the opportunity provided by this program.”
The center's approach combines research-based, play-centered learning with in thoughtfully designed environments where children thrive through purposeful play, hands-on exploration, and meaningful relationships with experienced early childhood educators.
The child care affordability crisis has significant ripple effects throughout Colorado's economy. When families lose access to reliable, quality child care, parents—particularly mothers—are often forced to reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely, impacting their financial stability and the broader labor market.
Westwood Academy operates in Denver and provides comprehensive programs designed to support children's social-emotional growth, creativity, and kindergarten readiness. They are currently accepting applications for toddler, preschool, and Universal Pre-K.
