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 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.

   Gateways Scholarship Program funding has been depleted for scholarships supporting the attainment of an ISBE Professional Educator License, ESL/Bi-lingual Endorsement, or for recipients who are employed by an ISBE-funded Preschool for All, through June 30, 2021. 
   Please Note: The Gateways Scholarship Program will continue to authorize coursework for recipients working towards early childhood/child development degrees/certificates/coursework not specified above.

    

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.)
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	Gross Yearly Wage Working Full Time
   100	0	up to $12.50	up to $26,020
   90	10	$12.51 - $15.00	$26,021 - $31,220
   80	20	$15.01 - $18.00	$37,460 - $43,699
   70	30	$18.01 - $21.00	$37,460 - $43,699
   60	40	$21.01 - $24.00	$43,700 - $49,920

   Gateways Scholarship Program will not pay out of district costs.
5. Are a citizen of the United States or a legal resident.
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