Financial Opportunities
A Need to Succeed
From scholarships to wage supplements, Gateways to Opportunity is giving
Illinois early care and education professionals access to the support they need
to succeed. Through programs like T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Illinois, Great
START, and others, early care and education professionals are able to pursue
coursework and opportunities for professional development even while working.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Illinois
The Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood®
Scholarship Project is an initiative created to improve the compensation level
of individuals working in early care and education programs while continuing
their education. Research indicates that these three factors—educational level
of practitioners, consistency of care, and practitioner compensation—have a
direct impact on the quality of early care and education programs. Based on
that research, T.E.A.C.H. was developed to meet immediate and long-term
professional development needs in the child care industry.
The T.E.A.C.H. program provides scholarships to child care employees, directors,
and family child care practitioners for obtaining college credit. Credit can be
earned toward an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, a Child
Development Associate credential, or a Certified Child Care Professional
credential. By attending classes at participating four-year institutions,
students can also earn credit toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood
Education or Child Development. A student may also receive financial assistance
while working toward any of the three Illinois Director Credential (IDC)
levels. In addition, once child care practitioners complete coursework in Early
Childhood/Child Development, they may become eligible to receive a wage
supplement from the Great START Wage Supplement program.
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 http://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
educational attainment in early care and education, as well as for their
commitment to the early care and education field. Great START addresses the
stability of the early care and education workforce by tackling the most
critical component of high-quality child care programs—adult-child interaction.
Research proves that children’s developmental and educational outcomes improve
with increased professional preparation and retention of child care personnel
in licensed centers and homes.
Eligible practitioners are able to receive a bi-annual wage supplement dependent
on their level of attainment of early care and education coursework,
credentials, or degrees. Practitioners who work in Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS) licensed centers and family child care
homes are eligible to apply. In addition to their educational attainment,
eligibility is also determined by practitioners’ paid positions, hourly wages,
and hours worked per week. 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. Great START was designed to work
collaboratively with the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Illinois Scholarship
project. Together, these two programs help advance practitioners along a career
path in early care and education.
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 an individual’s pursuit of professional development
in early care and education. Family child care providers, child care center
staff, directors, and child care associations are eligible to apply for these
funds. Professional Development Funds may be applied toward tuition, inservice
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;
however, all individuals are encouraged to apply.
Quality Counts Grants Program
The Quality Counts Grants Program, funded by the Illinois Department of Human
Services and administered locally by each of the 17 Child Care Resource and
Referral agencies, 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 quality and/or capacity activities.
Credential and Accreditation Funds
Credential and Accreditation Funds are available through your local CCR&R.
These funds are designed to help child care programs achieve accreditation and
to help individuals pursue a child care 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 publicly funded children.
Learn more about your local CCR&Rs.
Sources of Funding
Scholarships
Loans
Grants
Wage Supplements
Child Care Assistance
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