JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2023-24 ECACE Payment Update: Terms 1, 2, and 3 Claims Now Due; Summer Term Claims Being Accepted

05/20/2024

Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).

This message contains updates about the 2023-24 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program.

Because this is the last year for which federal funding for this program is available, ISAC is monitoring remaining available funds very closely. The immediate submission of payment requests (claims) and cancellation/adjustment data by colleges is necessary so that comprehensive analysis can take place. Additionally, claiming for students actually enrolled, rather than for enrollment projections, provides ISAC with more accurate data that is needed to process and pay pending claims.

Last Call – 2023-24 First, Second, Third Term ECACE Claims – Due May 29

  • Although the priority claim deadline dates have passed for prior terms, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay ECACE Scholarship claims for fall (Term 1 for semester and quarter schools), winter (Term 2 for quarter schools), and spring (Term 2 for semester schools; Term 3 for quarter schools) through Wednesday, May 29.
  • Claims for the first 3 terms of the academic year submitted after the May 29th due date will be held as late and are unlikely to be paid.

Summer Term Claims Now Being Accepted – Due June 7

  • ISAC is now accepting and holding 2023-24 ECACE Scholarship claims for the summer term.
    • As a reminder, summer is designated as Term 4 (for both semester and quarter schools) in the ECACE system.
    • In order to be considered timely, ECACE claims for the summer term must be submitted to ISAC on or before Friday, June 7, 2024.
    • All submitted claims will be held and processed only once all claims are submitted and analysis of claim data has taken place.

Claims Submission Process

  • Colleges may submit 2023-24 ECACE Scholarship claims for students who have been prequalified.
  • By submitting claims through the ECACE system, the institution is certifying that the student is enrolled and meets all program eligibility requirements.
    • Submit claims only for students who are enrolled for the term for which payment is being requested. As noted above, this provides more accurate information as we monitor funding levels.
    • If not submitting a claim, the institution reports the reason for the student's ineligibility.
  • Submitting claims is a two-step process, which involves generating the request (either individually or in a batch) and then submitting the request.
  • Payment results are available in the ECACE system the morning following each payment run; payment processing occurs twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Summer claims are currently being held and are not being processed on this schedule.)
    • Schools are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report that is available the day after claims are processed
  • The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.
  • Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to the ECACE Scholarship Program, refund checks should not be sent for cancellations/adjustments made throughout the award year.
    • Funds should only be returned to ISAC after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.
  • More information regarding ECACE payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations on ISAC's website:

Watch for Future Updates

Future program updates – including the status of summer-term claims that are currently being held – will be shared with colleges via ISAC's standard methods of communication, including: the ECACE Program News area; the FAA Message Board; and, this e-Messaging service.

You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups for FAAs.

If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact ISAC's School Services Department by calling toll free at 866.247.2172 or sending an e-mail message to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov.