In July 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 102-0174, instructing the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board to create and implement the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program. The program aims to upskill the early education workforce by giving students financial support to complete their degrees and by aligning early education career pathways across Illinois institutions of higher education.
For undergraduate students seeking credentials and/or a degree in early childhood education at a 2- or 4-year ECACE member institution, the scholarships pay the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board charges, or commuter allowances.. For the 2024-25 academic year, the ECACE Scholarship award was the lesser of $7,500 or the cost of attendance. Recipients are expected to teach in the early education field in Illinois after completing their program of study.
Until June 2024, the ECACE Scholarship Program was funded by federal Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) stabilization funds. In 2023-24, $76.4 million in ECACE Scholarship funds were distributed to nearly 4,700 students. This was a large increase from 2022-23 ($29.6 million in scholarships for about 2,100 students) and 2021-22 ($5.7 million in scholarships for about 400 incumbent workforce).
Starting in FY2025, the program is funded using $5 million in Illinois state general funds. This appropriation was considerably less than in previous years, and thus fewer students received scholarship; in 2024-25, the program was able to support only a portion of renewal applicants.
Sources:
Illinois Student Assistance Commission. (2025). Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program.
Illinois Student Assistance Commission. (n.d.). Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship, AY 2023-24.
Illinois General Assembly. (2021). Public Act 102-0174.
Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity. (2023). Frequently Asked Questions.
Connections to Key Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) Findings:
The early education workforce is the foundation upon which all daily work and any expansion and quality improvement efforts rest. Research suggests that states and cities should invest in the workforce across all early education setting types, focusing on enhancing educators’ professional learning, compensation, and workplace conditions.
Findings from the Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H) show:
- Early educators play a critical role in supporting the well-being of young children and families across setting types.
- Yet their pay, benefits, and other professional supports are often inadequate in light of the job demands and their cost of living.