You could receive a Gateways Scholarship to help pay for your college coursework if you...

1. Care for children in an Illinois DCFS licensed program or ISBE funded Preschool for All program.

   Employed by an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licensed full-day/full-year child care program in one of the following positions: center director, assistant director, teacher, assistant teacher, school-age teacher, school-age assistant, family child care provider, family child care assistant, group home provider, or group home assistant.

   OR

   Employed by an IDCFS licensed school-age care program, within an early childhood setting, operating nine months per year in one of the following positions: director, assistant director, teacher, or assistant teacher.
   
   OR
   
   Employed by an ISBE funded Preschool for All program that operates a minimum of nine months per year, as a teacher or teacher's aide.
    

2. Have been employed at your current program for at least one year. 
   (90 days if employed at an ExceleRate Bronze, Silver, or Gold Circle of Quality program, (90-day exception does not pertain to ISBE PFA funded staff))
3. Work a minimum average of 15 hours per week. 
4. Meet wage requirements.

   Your wage determines the amount the Gateways Scholarship will pay for tuition.

   % of tuition Gateways Scholarship Program Would Pay	Applicant responsibility to college or university.	Hourly Wage
   100	0	up to $4.25 over Illinois State Minimum Wage
   90	10	$4.26 to $7.00 over Illinois State Minimum Wage
   80	20	$7.01 to $10.00 over Illinois State Minimum Wage
   70	30	$10.01 to $13.00 over Illinois State Minimum Wage
   60	40	$13.01 to $16.00 over Illinois State Minimum Wage

   Gateways Scholarship Program will not pay out of district costs.
5. Be a citizen of the United States, be a “legal alien”, or reside in the State of Illinois.
6. Commit to future work in early care and education or school-age care depending on scholarship type.

   Work commitment periods follow:

   • Six months for completion of a coursework contract
   • One year for degree completion
   • One year for certificate, approval, or endorsement completion

   The work commitment must be completed in one of the following early care and education or school-age care programs:

   • IDCFS licensed full-day, full-year family/group child care home or center
   • IDCFS licensed school-age program operating a minimum of nine months a year 
   • ISBE funded Preschool for All program

The commitment period begins at the completion of the contract period. All scholarship contracts end on June 30.