Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program (ECACE)

To be eligible for the scholarship during the 2025-26 academic year, you must:

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen or meet the undocumented student criteria of the RISE Act
• currently work or have ever worked as a teacher, assistant teacher, director, family childcare provider or family childcare assistant in a licensed or license-exempt facility
• provide documentation confirming your employment history and current membership in the Gateways to Opportunity® Registry
• be enrolled part-time (at least 3 credit hours) or full-time in an approved two-year or four-year college that is part of the ECACE program and be working toward the following undergraduate degrees:
  • an associate of applied science degree or a related certificate in early childhood education, or
  • a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, with or without a teaching license
  • Please note: If you have an AA/AAS degree in early childhood education but have not yet completed a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, you will meet the undergraduate education eligibility criteria for this program. Also, if you have an undergraduate degree in any field other than early childhood education and are now pursuing an AA/AAS or bachelor’s in early childhood education, you will meet the undergraduate education eligibility criteria for this program.
• maintain good academic standing as required by your college
• submit both the ECACE Scholarship application and the FAFSA (or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid by the application deadline
• not be in default on federal student loans or owe refunds on state or federal grants. If you are in default, you may reestablish your eligibility using the Default Resolution Options to Regain Federal and State Student Aid

While you do not need to demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this scholarship, priority consideration is given to:

• applicants who have received the scholarship before
• applicants who are close to graduating and have the lowest income based on their FAFSA or Alternative Application.

We encourage you to complete and submit all required application forms before the priority application consideration deadline. Applications received after the priority consideration deadline are considered only if funding is still available after awarding timely eligible applicants. 

Follow these steps to apply for the 2025-26 ECACE Scholarship:

• Complete the Gateways to Opportunity Registry’s Eligibility Verification Form. Follow these instructions to access the Eligibility Verification Form to access the Eligibility Verification Form. If you have prior employment that is not listed on your Eligibility Verification Form, you may request that it be added by completing the Reporting Prior Employment for ECACE Scholarship Form. 
• Ensure that the college at which you are taking or plan to take courses is an ECACE-participating college. The ECACE Consortium provides personalized assistance and support to help you enroll at a college/university. Learn more about ECACE Higher Education Navigators.
• Complete and submit the ECACE Scholarship Application.
  • Note: You must list your college of choice on your application. If you plan to attend more than one college during the same term, list only your college of record on the ECACE application.
• Complete and submit the FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.
  • Note: You must list your college of choice on your FAFSA or Alternative Application. If you plan to attend more than one college, list both colleges on your FAFSA or Alternative Application.
• Notify the college(s) you listed on your application materials that you have submitted an ECACE Scholarship application.

Has anything changed since you submitted your application? 

You may need to let us know about something that’s changed since you originally submitted your ECACE Program application. You must notify us, in writing at the address below, within 15 days of any change affecting your enrollment status, name or address.

Keep the following in mind:

• You can only submit one application for this program per academic year. You can notify us of any changes, but please do not try to send a second application with your new information.
• Requests to change previously submitted information will not affect the “received date” of your application.
• You should notify us as soon as possible regarding any changes to your demographic information (name, address, phone number, etc.), or if you plan to use your ECACE Program benefits at a different college and/or for different terms. Report changes to your college of record before the beginning of the applicable term(s) to allow enough processing time and prevent a delay or loss of scholarship funds.
• Your request must include the last four digits of your Social Security number (for identification purposes) and clearly state what change(s) need to be made.
• Submit changes to ISAC using one of the following methods (note that changes cannot be reported over the phone):
• email to [email protected];
• fax to 847.831.8549; or
• letter to ISAC Program Operations, 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL 60015-5209

What Happens After You Apply?

• You will receive a confirmation email once your application is received.
• Application processing takes up to 12 weeks.
• If you need to change your response(s) or update any information after your application has been submitted, contact ISAC directly following the instructions to change your application data.
• Once ISAC determines that both the ECACE Scholarship application and the FAFSA or Alternative Application have been submitted, you will receive a letter stating that your application is considered complete. If your application is incomplete, ISAC will notify you about how to fix it. You will receive a letter explaining the reason and how to resolve the issue.
• Be sure the financial aid office at your college knows you will be enrolling and that you have submitted an ECACE Scholarship application.
• If your application is complete and your college determines you are eligible, you will receive notice of your eligibility, and your college will request payment on your behalf. Scholarship payments are made directly to the college.
• You will be notified if it is determined that you are not eligible for the scholarship or if there are not enough funds available to provide scholarships to all eligible applicants. 

How Funds Are Distributed

• If your application is complete and your college determines you are eligible, your college will request payment on your behalf. Scholarship payments are made directly to the college, which will apply them to your costs.
• Recipients are expected to continue working or return to work in the early childhood care and education field in Illinois after completing their studies.

Apply by March 1, 2026 for priority consideration for all terms. Applications received after March 1, 2026 will be considered only if funds remain after awarding all timely eligible applicants.

The ECACE Scholarship pays the cost of attendance for an academic year up to $7,500 for students attending eligible colleges in Illinois. Recipients are expected to continue working or return to work in the early childhood care and education field in Illinois after completing their studies.

The maximum annual award a student may receive is the lesser of $7,500 or the cost of attendance after other aid is considered.

Licensed facility: A licensed facility is a childcare program in a center or home (family childcare) that is licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Most programs that serve more than three children aged 0-12 in a center or home are required to be licensed. Public and private schools and programs in other settings may not be required to be licensed and are typically categorized as “license-exempt”, if serving children aged three and older. These facilities include home-based childcare, community-based centers, school-based preschool, Preschool for All programs and HeadStart programs.

License-exempt facility: A license-exempt facility refers to childcare that is not required to be licensed by DCFS. This may include programs operated by public or private elementary school systems, high schools, or institutions or higher learning; programs conducted on federal government premises; and other programs recognized or registered with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), if children in the program are aged three and older