Early Childhood Education Scholarship | College of Education

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

Isaiah Allen

iallen20@csu.edu

Shamara Carter

scarte23@csu.edu

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

What is ECACE?

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.

Tours & Advising

Tours and advising every Tuesday from 10am to 6pm in room 318 in the College of Education building

How is CSU Involved?

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.

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.

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.

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.