Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program

The Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program is an individual-based scholarship opportunity for eligible practitioners working in Early Care and Education (ECE) or school-age care programs. The Gateways Scholarship Program will pay a percentage of tuition and fees dependent upon availability of funding. Goals of the program include:

• Enabling practitioners to continue education in ECE and to earn degrees, certificates, endorsements, or credentials.
• Promoting increased earning ability through increased education.
• Improving the quality and consistency of care received by children in licensed child care or school-age care settings.

For more information on the Gateways Scholarship Program refer to the Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs).

The Gateways Scholarship Program complements the Great START Wage Supplement Program. Great START rewards practitioners working in Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licensed programs who have attained education above licensing requirements and who remain employed at the same child care or school-age care program.

The Gateways Scholarship Program is administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) and funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Child Care and Development and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).