Early Childhood Education at Chicago State University
Do you work with young children? Advance your career through our Early Childhood Access
for Consortium for Equity program
Program Designed for Working Professionals
CSU Early Childhood program is designed for professionals who work in early childhood
settings and want to pursue a bachelor’s degree, professional educator license (birth-grade
2). Enrolled students have the opportunity to be fully funded as a part of the Illinois Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity.


Program Highlights
- Opportunity to receive full funding
- Variety of class options: virtual, hybrid and face to face evening classes.
- Degree options include Licensure and non-licensure options. Licensure options include
ESL and Special Ed approval embedded within the degree program of study.
- Degree completion in two years
- Support with job-embedded field experiences and observations
- Support with edTPA and licensure preparation
- Recognition of the Child Development Associate Credential for up to 9 college credit
hours
Eligibility
- AA or AAS degree or BA degree or 60 credit hours
- Min. 2.0 GPA
- Work in a setting full or part time that serves children ages birth to 5
How to Get Your Early Childhood Education Plan Started at CSU
- Apply to CSU
- Complete the FAFSA (the federal financial aid application)
- Meet with the mentor coach to have an individualized advising session to design degree
completion plan
- Share Gateways Professional Development Record and or apply for Gateways
Eligibility for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship
To be eligible for the Illinois Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE)
Scholarship, a student must work in an position (full- or part-time), including roles
including teacher, teacher’s assistant, director, preschool classroom-based paraprofessional,
or similar) in an early childhood congregate care setting, such as a:
- Child care center
- Family childcare facility
- Public or private preschool
- Head Start program
- Or have recently worked in one of these settings
ECACE scholarships are awarded annually, and like FAFSA, students must reapply each
year as they move through their education journey. For more details on ECACE eligibility,
please visit the 
Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity at Chicago State University
Do you work with young children? Advance your career through our Early Childhood Access
Consortium for Equity program.
Program Designed for Working Professionals
CSU Early Childhood program is designed for professionals who work in early childhood
settings and want to pursue a bachelor’s degree, professional educator license (birth-grade
2). Enrolled students have the opportunity to be fully funded as a part of the Illinois
Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity.
For More Information
Contact mentor coaches
Or call the ECACE Office at Chicago State University at 773-995-2346
Program Highlights and Supports
- Recognition of the Child Development Associate Credential for up to 9 college credit
hours
- Opportunity to receive full funding in completing your degree
- Variety of class options: online, hybrid, and face-to-face evening classes.
- Degree options include Licensure and non-licensure options. Licensure options include
ESL and EC Special Ed approval embedded within the degree program of study.
- Individualized academic advising
- Support with job-embedded field experiences and observations
- Individualized face-to-face and/or online tutoring
- Support of mentor coaches
- Mental health services
- On campus daytime and evening childcare
- Content test preparation support
Eligibility
- AA / AAS / BA degree in Early Childhood or 60 credit hours in EC or related field
- Min. 2.0 GPA
- Work full or part time in a setting that serves children ages birth to 5
How to Get Your Early Childhood Education Plan Started at CSU
- Contact the State Navigator assigned to CSU to work with prospective candidates to
determine eligibility for the ECACE Project.
- Apply to Chicago State University.
- Meet with the mentor coach to have an individualized advising session to design degree
completion plan.
- Contact the Financial Aid Office to confirm your enrollment.
What is ECACE? Tours & Advising How is CSU Involved?
Do you recognize the Child Development Associate Credential?
Contact Us:
ECACE Office
Tel: (773) 995-2391
Education Building Room 321 10am to 6pm Mon to Fri (appointments are suggested)
website.
Still Have Questions?
Check out our FAQs below, or contact your CSU Financial Aid Advisors who can offer additional guidance.
FAQs
The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity was created through IL Public Act
102-0174, and charges the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and the Illinois
Community College Board (ICCB) with serving the needs of the incumbent early childhood
workforce and the employers of early childhood educators.
The Consortium’s overarching goal is to advance racial equity while meeting the needs
of employers by streamlining, coordinating and improving the accessibility of degree
completion pathways for upskilling future leaders. It’s also intended to:
- Support the sustained expansion of educational pipelines at Illinois institutions
of higher education,
- Develop a common standard for methods to provide credit for prior learning, and
- Ensure the full transferability of the AAS degree to universities, as consistent with
the law.
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Tours and advising every Tuesday from 10am to 6pm in room 318 in the College of Education
building
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CSU is proud to participate in this groundbreaking cooperative designed to have a
long-term, systemic positive impact on early childhood development through early childhood
educators and employers.
Our commitment is to prioritize and upskill students working towards early childhood
development career paths by providing scholarships and dedicated support resources
while also working to increase enrollment and completion of early childhood development
programs.
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What are the Standards for Prior Learning Assessments (PLA) and Credit? |
The Public Act that created the Consortium calls for the creation of new standard
methods to provide credit for prior learning, and although CSU may offer additional
pathways in the future for defining PLA credit, will maintain the common new standard
set by the Consortium.
The Gateway competencies are intentionally aligned with Illinois Professional Teaching
Standards, the InTASC standards and the former and newly updated NAEYC standards.
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How does the Cross-Institutional Access to Coursework initiative impact CSU students? |
A significant pillar of the Consortium’s mission is to allow students to attend their
“home institution,” and also take courses at other institutions without having to
be admitted to the other institution(s). This new approach will give students more
access and flexibility to pursue the courses necessary to advance their degree program
by taking classes that best fit their needs and schedule.
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Do you recognize the Child Development Associate Credential? |
Yes, CSU honors the Child Development Associate credential. Students can secure up
to 9 college credit hours for either the toddler or preschool credentials.
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