Gateways Financial Opportunities
From scholarships to wage supplements, Gateways to Opportunity is giving Illinois early care and education professional’s access to financial support. Through programs like the Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program and Great START, early care and education professionals are able to pursue coursework and opportunities for professional development.
Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program
The Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program provides scholarships for practitioners in early care and education (ECE). Practitioners working in centers and homes licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) can apply for a Gateways Scholarship. The Gateways Scholarship will pay a percentage of the cost of tuition, fees, and books. The amount paid is based on an eligible participant’s income earned in ECE. Goals of the program include:
- Enabling practitioners to continue study in ECE to earn degrees or credentials
- Promoting increased earning ability through increased education
- Improving the quality and consistency of child care in licensed settings
The Gateways Scholarship Program complements the Great START Wage Supplement Program. Great START rewards practitioners working in IDCFS-licensed programs who have attained education above licensing requirements and who remain employed at the same child care program. Go to the Gateways Scholarship Program site for more information.
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
The ISAC offers a comprehensive array of programs designed specifically for college-bound students and their families—including state and federal grants, scholarships, loans, and college prepaid tuition programs. College Zone, the trusted source for college information, is ISAC’s one-stop approach to outreach.
For more information on ISAC, pick up brochures at Outreach Centers located at community college campuses throughout the state, phone (800) 899-ISAC (4722), or visit www.collegezone.com.
Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers)
Great START is a wage-supplement program that was created to address the child care-staffing crisis in Illinois. Great START compensates practitioners for higher education course credit earned in early care and education, as well as for their commitment to the early care and education field. Applicant eligibility is based on:
- Employment in a DCFS licensed child care facility
- Earned course credit, credentials, or degrees
- Commitment to the ECE field
- Hourly wage and hours worked per week
- Working for the same employer for one consecutive year
Eligible practitioners receive a bi-annual wage supplement based on the number of credit hours, credentials, or degrees earned. Practitioners who work in IDCFS-licensed centers and family child care homes are eligible to apply. A practitioner must be employed for one consecutive year before applying and must remain employed at the same program to receive the wage supplement every six months.
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Services
Professional Development Funds
Each CCR&R agency receives funds from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to support professional development in early care and education. Family childcare providers, childcare center staff, directors, and childcare associations are eligible to apply for these funds. Professional Development Funds may be applied toward tuition, in-service training, and/or conferences related to early care and education or management. Priority is given to programs funded by IDHS, with greater priority given to those with 25% or more of their enrollment consisting of IDHS-funded children. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
Quality Counts Grants Program
The Quality Counts Grants Program, funded by IDHS and administered locally by each of the 17 CCR&Rs, has been created to improve quality and/or increase the capacity of early care and education programs in Illinois. Funds are awarded across the state of Illinois, with a percentage of these funds targeted for infant-toddler care quality and/or capacity activities. For more information or an application, please contact your local CCR&R.
Credential and Accreditation Funds
Credential and Accreditation Funds are available through your local CCR&R. These funds are designed to help childcare programs achieve accreditation and to help individuals pursue a childcare credential. Funds may be used for many activities, including training, mentoring, consultations, and credential and accreditation fees. Applications for Credential and Accreditation Funds are available at your local CCR&R. Priority is given to applicants of programs serving 25% or more of publicly funded children.
Learn more about your local CCR&Rs.