The Gateways Scholarship Program is an individual-based scholarship opportunity, for professionals working in early care and education. The program provides financial assistance for early childhood education and child development (ECE/CD)coursework and degrees offered through participating colleges and universities dependent on available funding. The Gateways Scholarship Program is administered by INCCRRA and funded by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)*.
*As of July 1, 2026, select early childhood programs transitioned from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).

Professionals employed by an Illinois Child Care Licensed (formerly DCFS) full-day, full-year** child care program or family/group child care home, Illinois Child Care Licensed school-age child care programs operating a minimum of nine months per year and Early Childhood Block Grant Funded Preschool for All programs serving children for one full school year. Practitioners must also be working in one of the following positions: 

• In Illinois Child Care Licensed programs: Family Child Care Provider, Family Child Care Assistant, Group Home Provider, Group Home Assistant, Director, Assistant Director, Teacher, Assistant Teacher, School-Age Teacher, School-Age Assistant 

  • In an Early Childhood Block Grant Funded Preschool for All (PFA) program that operates for a minimum of nine months per year: Teacher or Teacher’s Aide
  **A full-day, full year program operates eight or more consecutive hours per day, for a minimum of 47 weeks per year.

Gateways Scholarship recipients must:

• Be educating and caring for Illinois children. 
• Have been employed at their current Illinois Child Care Licensed program center or home, for a minimum of one year, or an ExceleRate Illinois Bronze, Silver, or Gold Circle of Quality program for 90 days (not including PFA programs). 
• Have been employed at an Early Childhood Block Grant Funded PFA program for one full school year. 
• Work a minimum average of 15 hours per week or more on a continuous employment basis (includes work and benefit time) and at least 47 weeks per year. 
• Meet wage requirements. 
• Be a citizen of the United States, be a lawful permanent resident, or reside in the State of Illinois. 
• Commit to work in early care and education (ECE) or school-age child care for a period of time, based on scholarship type, upon the completion of the scholarship contract.

Scholarship recipients may be authorized for up to 5 courses in a contract period OR a maximum of 15 semester/23 quarter hours in a contract period (for courses outside of the typical course length).

• Bachelor’s degree applicants must have 55 transfer semester or 82 transfer quarter hours accepted at participating four year institutions to apply, or a conferred associates degree.

The program will pay a certain percentage of tuition for eligible practitioners whose goal it is to earn:

• A Certificate in ECE/CD.
• An Associates Degree in ECE/CD.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in ECE/CD.
• A Master’s Degree in ECE/CD.
• Coursework to advance on the Great START Wage Supplement Scale.
• Coursework toward a Gateways to Opportunity Credential.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree related to program administration for ECE/CD.
• Coursework for Illinois Professional Educator Licensure in Early Childhood.
• Early Childhood student teaching.
• Coursework for Bilingual/ESL Approval/Endorsement.

Upon being found eligible and registering for coursework, the Gateways Scholarship Program will pay the participating college or university a percentage of the cost of tuition, dependent on your income level.

The percentage paid by the Gateways Scholarship Program for tuition is determined through a sliding scale, which is based upon the recipient’s income at time of award.

Scale based on a 40-hour work week. Gateways Scholarship Program will not pay out of district costs.

The application and information on how to apply are available on the Gateways to Opportunity website.

• Applicants must submit required documentation along with a scholarship application.
• Additional documentation may be required upon review of your application.

An official transcript is a transcript in a sealed envelope from an accredited college or university. The applicant should not open this envelope. Official electronic transcripts are also accepted if sent from an accredited college or university to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Copies of foreign evaluations may be accepted. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

You will receive a notice within 30 days of the receipt of your completed and signed application and required documents informing you whether or not you are eligible. If eligible, you will be assigned to a Gateways Scholarship Counselor who will assist you throughout the scholarship process.

The Gateways Scholarship Program accepts applications year round.

• Please submit your signed and completed application and required documents 4-6 weeks before the start of your approved course work.
• Scholarship applications are processed and approved on a first come, first serve basis and dependent upon availability
  of funds.
• Applications for a new academic year (summer – quarter hour/fall – semester hour institutions) will be accepted starting May 1.

Your signed application serves as your contract with the Gateways Scholarship Program.

All contracts begin on July 1st and end on June 30th.

You may sign as many contracts as needed to complete a degree, certificate, licensure, endorsement, or credential as long as all grades are submitted and all Gateways Scholarship Program eligibility requirements continue to be met.

Yes, you can apply for other financial aid in addition to the Gateways Scholarship Program. If you receive a MAP Grant, your college or university will deduct the MAP Grant prior to invoicing the Gateways Scholarship Program for your tuition.

After receiving your eligibility letter, share the course(s) you wish to register for with your Gateways Scholarship Counselor by completing and submitting the Participant Class Schedule. After submitting your Participant Class Schedule, you may register for courses. Please use the authorization time frames below:

Authorizations are NOT allowed after deadlines.
*Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis for schools who offer midterm classes.

The work commitment period to early care and education is dependent upon coursework completed and scholarship type. Work commitment periods follow: 

• Six months for completion of a coursework contract. 
• One year for completion of a degree (associate, bachelor’s, master’s) 
• One year for certificate, licensure, endorsement complet 

The work commitment must be completed in one of the following Illinois early care and education settings: 

• In Illinois Child Care Licensed programs: Family Child Care Provider, Family Child Care Assistant, Group Home Provider, Group Home Assistant, Director, Assistant Director, Teacher, Assistant Teacher, School-Age Teacher, School-Age Assistant 
• In an Early Childhood Block Grant Funded Preschool for All (PFA) program that operates for a minimum of nine months per year: Teacher or Teacher’s Aide. 

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

If you are eligible for the Gateways Scholarship Program, your eligibility notice will tell you the percentage of tuition that will be paid to your college or university.

• You will be required to submit grade reports at the end of every term.
• If you do not submit grades for two consecutive terms, you will not be allowed to register for the next term.
• You must make a commitment to early care and education or school-age care. The commitment period begins at the completion of the contract period. All scholarship contracts end on June 30.

If you leave your place of employment during a contract to work in another ECE or school-age program, you will need to contact your Gateways Scholarship Specialist immediately at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss your scholarship options. 

If you leave the field of ECE or school-age child care during your work commitment period, you will be required to reimburse INCCRRA the cost of your most recent contract. 

***Recipients are responsible for reviewing the Scholarship Program Work Commitment FAQ. 

The individual will be banned from INCCRRA administered programs for a time period to be determined by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). Any benefit received by or paid on behalf of the individual as a result of fraudulent, altered, or false documentation or information must be reimbursed to INCCRRA by the individual as determined by IDEC.