Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Eligibility

Gateways to Opportunity Scholarships are awarded on the basis of income and commitment to early care and education or school-age care. Those who would like to attend a participating institution to complete coursework may apply for a scholarship.

Applicants eligible to receive a scholarship include:
Practitioners working in an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licensed full-day, full-year child care center, or family/group child care home; IDCFS licensed school-age care programs operating a minimum of nine months per year. Practitioners must also be working in one of the following positions in IDCFS licensed programs:

• Family child care provider, family child care assistant, group home provider, and group home assistant.
• Center director, assistant director, teacher, assistant teacher, school-age teacher, or school-age assistant.
• Practitioners working in a Preschool for All (PFA) program that operates for a minimum of nine months per year. Practitioners must be working as a teacher or teacher’s aide.

Applicants must also meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be educating and caring for Illinois children.
• Have been employed at current center or home, working at least 15 hours per week, for a minimum of one year.
• Have been employed at a public school PFA program one full-year.
• Work 15 hours per week on a continuous employment basis (includes work and benefit time).
• Meet wage requirements.
• Be a citizen of the United States or legal alien.
• Commit to future work in early care and education or school-age care based on scholarship type.

*Additional documentation may be required upon review of your application. Gateways Scholarships are awarded dependent upon availability of funding.