01
May
2025

How to Apply for Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA)

May 1, 2025
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To apply for the CDA Voucher, you first must complete your profile (Career Pathway) in Pennsylvania’s Professional Development (PD) Registry. Directions on how to apply are available at pakeys.org/apply-for-career-pathway. 

Once you complete and submit your profile, you will have access to the Financial Assistance section on your left-hand menu.

Eligibility Requirements

For more information, visit pakeys.org/keystone-stars/rising-stars.
  • Pennsylvania resident
  • Working a minimum of twenty (20) hours weekly in a classroom setting or as the director, assistant director or education coordinator
  • Working in a child care facility that holds a current (in good standing) Child Care License under the Department of Human Services (DHS) and demonstrates continuous employment for at least 12 months
  • Agreeing to continue to work in a Keystone STARS facility for two months for every credit supported by the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Program with two months beginning at the conclusion of the course for which funding was received. (Total time due will not exceed 24 months following the conclusion of the most recent course completed.)**
  • Child Care Center Directors, Assistant Directors, Family or Group Child Care Home Owners/Operators: Earning less than $25.00 per hour or $52,000 annually.
  • Aides, Assistant Teachers, Teachers: Earning less than $21.63 per hour or $45,000 annually.
  • Enrolled in credit-bearing courses at an in-state accredited institution toward an approved credential; and
  • Maintaining a 3.0 GPA for the credit-bearing coursework toward fa credential in which the student is enrolled.

*NOTE: Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding.

How To Apply

1

Go to papdregistry.org.  

2

Click Login in the top right corner.

Turquoise rectangular button with a white right-facing arrow icon followed by the text "Login" in white.

3

Enter your email address and password, then click Login.

4

Once you have submitted your profile, you will have access to the Financial Assistance section located on the left-hand menu.

NOTE: Before applying, make sure you meet all the requirements and have required documentation. Once ready, access the Financial Assistance section and begin the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Application.

5

Click Apply for Financial Assistance.

6

Click on Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTAP) and click Continue.

7

Click Review next to each to make all necessary updates, then click Save/Confirm, OK, for each section. If you are unable to complete all steps at once, you can return and finish later.

Here are brief instructions for each item; continue reading the document for detailed steps.

  • Personal Information
    • Update as needed.
  • Employment
    • Answer questions and update as needed. Please confirm that your Registry profile has correct employment start date, position and hours worked per week.
  • Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Information
    • Complete the required information and upload the following documentation:
      • Official Course Schedule – This needs to include the course title, course number, number of credits and course start/end date. 
      • Itemized Financial Billing Statement – This must indicate that the applicant has been registered for the course and must state the course name and the tuition cost for that specific course. Fees or other costs should not be included in the tuition cost line. 
      • Transcript – This must show your current GPA for previously RSTA funded courses. Your official transcript is not required to have a raised seal.  
      • Employer Attestation Form – This form needs to be completed by the Director/Owner of your current employer. 
      • DHS Certificate of Compliance – This should be obtained from Director/Owner of your current employer.  
      • Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education PD Commitment Form – This form serves as a statement to explain the requirements of participation and an attestation to receiving funding.  
    • If you are unable to upload documents, please fax supporting documentation to 717-213-0585 or email it to pakeyvoucherprogram@pakeys.org.
    • For more details, visit pakeys.org/keystone-stars/rising-stars.
8

Employment Section

Answer questions and make sure employment information is correct.

Click Confirm.

Click OK.

9

Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Information

Complete all required questions.

Complete the Course Entry section by clicking on the Add Course button. 

Click Save 

Upload the required documentation  

Click +File and select your saved file from your computer or device-submit documents as .pdf or .jpg file type 

Select a File type from the dropdown. 

Click Save 

Click OK 

Click Save/Confirm.

Click OK.

10

Click Submit Application once all sections are reviewed and confirmed.

11

Read the Rising STARS Tuition Assistance Terms and Conditions and check I attest and agree to all of the above. 

Click Continue. 

After You've Applied

Thank you for applying for the Rising STAR Tuition Assistance (RSTA) program. To check your status and to upload additional supporting documentation, go to the Financial Assistance section on the left-hand menu. 

If you have not received an email indicating approval, denial, or the need for more documentation to complete your application within two weeks of submission of your application, contact pavoucherprogram@pakeys.org to confirm your application has been received and processed. 

Contact

The PD Registry
registry@pakeys.org
1-800-284-6031