Uplift Education features a one of a kind scholarship program called Learn and Earn. The program presents the opportunity for scholars to earn up to $3,100 toward their college or career pathway after graduation. Beginning in fifth grade and concluding in 12th grade, scholars will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits that will be paid out after graduation. Uplift is proud to go above and beyond to support our scholars and families to and through college and career.
How does my 5th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Your fifth grade scholar has the opportunity to earn up to $3,100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 5th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
5th grade is the first year that an Uplift scholar can earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship. All your scholar must do during 5th grade to earn $100 credit is:
Complete their PYP Exhibition project at the end of the year!
How does it work?
Each year, starting in the 5th grade, scholars can earn credit toward their post-graduation scholarship by completing certain tasks, achieving on tests, and just showing up for school each day! Parents get to earn credits as well! The credit accumulates each year, and after graduation, the senior will receive a check equaling the amount of credit earned.
How much credit can be earned each year?
The chart below shows the maximum potential credit a scholar can earn per year*.
*Some credits can be earned only once, but scholars have the chance to earn the credit in more than one year.
Does the total credit accumulate?
Absolutely! The longer a scholar is with Uplift, the more credit they can earn each year, starting in 5th grade.
What must be done to earn credit?
The chart below shows a brief overview of the opportunities to earn credit by grade and how the credit breaks down. Please use the tabs below to learn more about each year’s credit opportunities, and visit the FAQ section for more answers.
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Potential credit for 5th Grade – $100
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 5th grade – $3100
How does my 6th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Uplift scholars have the opportunity to earn up to $3100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 6th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits up to $300 that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
All your scholar must do this year to earn up to $300 credits is:
Miss 6 days or less of school this year
Have a parent or guardian attend Meet the Teacher night
Have great behavior (no ISS or OSS)
Score meets/masters on reading STAAR
Score meets/master on math STAAR
Participate in the Network Science fair or Network Art Fair
Complete all items on the list above or just a few. You earn credits for each challenge completed.
Potential credit for 6th Grade – $300
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 6th grade – $3000
How does my 7th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Uplift scholars have the opportunity to earn up to $3100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 7th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits up to $300 that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
All your scholar must do this year to earn up to $300 credits is:
Miss 6 days or less of school this year
Have a parent or guardian attend Learn about Uplift High School Night
Have great behavior (no ISS or OSS)
Score meets/masters on reading STAAR
Score meets/masters on math STAAR
Participate in the Network Science Fair or Network Art Fair
Complete all items on the list above or just a few. You earn credits for each challenge completed.
Potential credit for 7th Grade – $300
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 7th grade – $2700
How does my 8th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Uplift scholars have the opportunity to earn up to $3100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 8th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits up to $300 that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
All your scholar must do this year to earn up to $300 credits is:
Miss 6 days or less of school this year
Have a parent or guardian attend Learn about Uplift High School Night
Serve as a leader of an on-campus club or play on a school sports team
Have great behavior (no ISS or OSS)
Score meets/masters on reading STAAR
Score meets/masters on math STAAR
Score meets/masters on Algebra I EOC
Complete all items on the list above or just a few. You earn credits for each challenge completed.
Potential credit for 8th Grade – $300
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 8th grade – $2400
How does my 9th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Uplift scholars have the opportunity to earn up to $3100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 9th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits up to $400 that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
All your scholar must do this year to earn up to $400 credits is:
Miss 6 days or less of school this year
Have a parent or guardian attend Learn about Uplift Diploma Program Night
Serve as a leader of an on-campus club or play on a school sports team
Have great behavior (no ISS or OSS)
Score meets/masters on English I EOC exam
Score meets/masters on Algebra I EOC exam (if didn’t take it in 8th grade)
Score meets/masters on Biology EOC exam
Earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Complete all items on the list above or just a few. You earn credits for each challenge completed.
Potential credit for 9th Grade – $400
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 9th grade – $2150
How does my 10th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Uplift scholars have the opportunity to earn up to $3100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 10th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits up to $600 that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
All your scholar must do this year to earn up to $600 credits is:
Score of 6 or higher on the MYP Personal Project
Miss 6 days or less of school this year
Have a parent or guardian attend Learn about Road to College and Career Night
Serve as a leader of an on-campus club or play on a school sports team
Have great behavior (no ISS or OSS)
Score college ready on TSI
Score meets/masters on English II EOC exam
Earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Complete all items on the list above or just a few. You earn credits for each challenge completed.
Potential credit for 10th Grade – $600
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 10th grade – $1750
How does my 11th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Uplift scholars have the opportunity to earn up to $3100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 11th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits up to $750 that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
All your scholar must do this year to earn up to $750 credits is:
Miss 6 days or less of school this year
Have a parent or guardian attend Learn about Road to College and Career Night
Serve as a leader of an on-campus club or play on a school sports team
Have great behavior (no ISS or OSS)
Score college ready on TSI (if not earned yet)
Score college ready on ACT
Participate in an approved school year or summer internship
Complete all items on the list above or just a few. You earn credits for each challenge completed.
Potential credit for 11th Grade – $750
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 11th grade – $1350
How does my 12th grader earn credit toward the Learn & Earn Scholarship?
Uplift scholars have the opportunity to earn up to $3100 towards their college or career pathway after graduation with Uplift’s “A New Way to Learn & Earn” scholarship program! In 12th grade, your child will have the opportunity to complete challenges during the year for credits up to $1,100 that will be paid out after high school graduation! The challenges focus on three categories:
Building International Baccalaureate Scholars
Contributing to Strong School Cultures
Achieving College and Career Readiness
All your scholar must do this year to earn up to $1100 credits is:
Earn a passing grade (no N letter grade) on the Diploma Program Extended Essay
Score 4 or higher on 1 or more Diploma Program exams
Miss 6 days or less of school this year
Serve as a leader of an on-campus club or play on a school sports team
Submit applications to at least 3 colleges on your college counselor approved list
Submit FAFSA/TAFSA by January 15 (or later if deadline extended)
Score college ready on TSI (if not earned yet)
Score college ready on ACT (if not earned yet)
Complete all items on the list above or just a few. You earn credits for each challenge completed.
Potential credit for 12th Grade – $1100
Potential scholarship upon graduation if started in 12th grade – $1100
Learn & Earn FAQ
Why did Uplift create the New Way To Learn & Earn Scholarship Program?
Uplift is committed to supporting our scholars through every grade to prepare them for college, career, and life. We are also committed to supporting our scholars after they graduate high school with college and career support. The Learn & Earn scholarship is one more way for us to help our graduates reach their individual goals.
We also know that the data shows the longer a scholar is with Uplift, the more prepared they are for college, career, and life. The program is designed to encourage our scholars to be engaged for the long haul, be connected and present at school, and build college-readiness behaviors that set them up for long-term success.
Who is eligible to participate?
Every child in 5th-12th grade at Uplift is eligible to participate and start earning credits.
Are new scholars eligible to participate?
Yes, every child in 5th-12th grade at Uplift is eligible to participate and start earning credits.
Does the scholar have to achieve every metric?
Scholars do not need to achieve every metric. They will earn credits for each individual item that they achieve. Visit the grade level pages to see the metrics for each grade, and see the chart below for how much each metric is worth.
Can a scholar earn credit for achievements in previous school years?
No. The first year to earn Scholarship credits is the 2023-24 school year. Scholars will not earn credits for previous school years.
Does the scholarship have to be used for college?
No. The Scholarship is paid directly to the Scholar and can be used for any expense related to college or entering the work force. Examples could include final dollars needed for college tuition, books or computer for college, payment towards a car to get to work, final dollars towards a job certification program, etc.
Is the scholarship paid out after each grade?
No. Scholars who stay through the end of their Senior year will receive their earned Uplift scholarship that will be paid out in the summer of their graduation year.
Can a scholar receive their scholarship money before they graduate?
No. Scholars who leave before the end of their Senior year will not be eligible for their earned Uplift scholarship.
If a scholar leaves Uplift for another school prior to graduation, do they get paid for the credit earned?
No. A scholar must complete graduation at an Uplift school to earn their scholarship.
If a scholar transfers to another Uplift school, do they get to keep their credit?
Yes. If a scholar transfers to another Uplift school during their academic journey, they still keep the scholarship credits earned in previous years.
What happens if a scholar withdraws from an Uplift school, then reenrolls later?
If a Scholar leaves Uplift, for any period of time, and later rejoins the Network, they start over again in earning scholarship credits. The only exception is an approved short-term withdrawal for a medical or mental health leave.
How will the credit be tracked?
Some items, such as test scores, will be tracked at the network level, and some items, such as attendance, will be tracked at the campus level.
Data will be uploaded each summer and parents will be able to view their Scholars’ earned scholarship credit to date through Power School and the “All in One” Dashboard.
What if my scholar's credit balance is inaccurate?
Families who believe their Scholar’s earned scholarship credits is inaccurate for the prior school year must submit their questions/ concerns in writing to their campus Academic Director. Issues can’t be raised for scholarship credits earned beyond the previous school year.
Must taxes be paid on scholarship money?
Families are responsible for any tax liabilities related to the Scholarship payment.
*Some credits can be earned only once, but scholars have the chance to earn the credit in more than one year.
