JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2025-26 ECACE Certification Now Open

06/11/2025

Effective today, certification data for the 2025-26 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program is being accepted.

Student List

As was the case last year, the opening of the certification function allows colleges to view a listing of applicant records in the ECACE system, as well as certify eligibility for qualified students. The "Student List Eligibility: View" screen displays applicants who listed your institution on their applications and whose applications have been reviewed by ISAC staff for completeness. Additional records will appear on the Student List on an ongoing basis as applications are reviewed. You may want to consider regularly checking the ECACE system for any new data that has been posted.

Certification

Certification records are created for applicants who have completed the application process – meaning that the ECACE application and either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, along with required documentation, have all been submitted – and the applicant meets all initial eligibility requirements (i.e., requirements other than those that must be verified by the college). These records appear on the "Certification List: View" screen, located under the "Certification" tab of the ECACE system. The individual certification records can be accessed by selecting the student's name from the list and navigating to the Certification Data screen.

For the 2025-26 certification process:

  • Colleges will be asked to indicate if a student meets program eligibility criteria by selecting either "Yes" or "No."
    • If "No" is selected, the college must select a reason that best describes why the student is considered ineligible.
  • If the student was not paid benefits in 2024-25, the college will be asked if the student is close to completion of their program.
    • The options are either "Yes" or "No."
    • "Close to completion" is defined as 30 credit hours or less.
    • Colleges will only have to provide this information for applicants who received ECACE Scholarship funds in years prior to 2024-25.

All certification records showing in the ECACE system must be completed regardless of whether the school determines an applicant to be eligible or ineligible. The only way an applicant will receive notification of their eligibility status from ISAC is if the certification record is submitted. Once the certification data is entered on the screen, clicking on the Save/Submit button will complete the process, and the applicant status information will be updated on the "Certification List: View" screen.

The certification process must be completed before awarding can take place later this summer, and colleges are asked to regularly check the ECACE system for new student records that are posted as ISAC continues the application review process.

Online Resources

Future Updates

We will continue to share program updates through our usual means of communication – the FAA Message Board, the ECACE Program News page, and this e-Messaging service.

You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups for FAAs.

If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or calling 866.247.2172.