Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for an award during the 2024-25 academic year, you must:

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen or meet the undocumented student criteria of the RISE Act
• be a member of the incumbent workforce, currently working or having worked in the early childhood field, including family child care and center-based care settings, Preschool for All school-based settings, and Head Start, that serves children from birth to age 5 and includes teachers, assistant teachers, directors, family child care providers and assistants. Applicants must provide documentation confirming their current membership in the Gateways to Opportunity® Registry.
• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment on a full- or part-time (at least 3 credit hours) basis at a public or non-profit private 2- or 4-year Gateways-entitled and Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) member institution and be pursuing at least one of the following:
  • an Associate of Applied Science degree (or related certificate) in early childhood education or an associate degree with a concentration in early childhood at an approved college; or
  • a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, with or without a Professional Educator License;
• maintain satisfactory academic progress as established by your college.
• complete the online application process by submitting a complete Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) on or before by the ISAC-established date in order to receive priority access to funding.
• be certified as meeting eligibility requirements by the college at which you will use the scholarship.
• not be in default on any federal student loan, nor owe a refund on any State or federal grant. If you are in default, you may re-establish your eligibility.

You do not have to demonstrate financial need to receive this scholarship, although applicants are prioritized for awarding based on their Student Aid Index (SAI) (from information on the FAFSA or Alternative Application), from lowest to highest.