JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2023-24 ECACE Scholarship Program Applications Due August 7

05/31/2023

NOTE: If you do not work directly with the administration of the ECACE Scholarship Program, please forward this message to the appropriate colleague(s) at your institution and encourage them to sign up for the "ECACE Administrators" e-Messaging subscription group.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is sharing the following information to assist colleges in the administration of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program.

2023-24 ECACE Scholarship Application Now Available
(Due August 7th)

Effective today, ECACE Scholarship applications for the 2023-24 academic year are being accepted. In order to receive priority access to funding, the application process – including submission of the 2023-24 ECACE application and the 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) – must be completed on or before Monday, August 7, 2023. Applications received after that date will be considered only if funding remains after all timely, complete qualified applicants have been awarded.

Remember:

  • Program details – including eligibility requirements – are available on our website, along with a link to the online application.
    • As always, we ask our partners to encourage those who may be interested in applying to learn about the program before completing the application.
    • Note that, in an effort to provide assistance to as many qualified students as possible, the eligibility requirements for the 2023-24 academic year reflect changes from the 2022-23 academic year – financial aid administrators are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the current requirements so they may best assist students.
  • In addition to completing the ECACE application, the FAFSA must be filed for the same academic year.
    • The ECACE-participating college the applicant plans to attend must be listed on the FAFSA.
    • Eligibility is not based on financial need, but the FAFSA results will be used to prioritize awards among the neediest of applicants.
  • Although there is no teaching commitment connected to the award, recipients are expected to continue or return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood care and education field after they complete their program of study.

Looking Ahead

  • When 2023-24 applicant data is available for each college to access via the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen of the ECACE system (anticipated during the month of July 2023), data will be displayed for all applications listing the institution as the college the student plans to attend (i.e., complete, incomplete and ineligible applications will be included).
  • 2023-24 ECACE Scholarship payment processing is anticipated to commence during the month of August 2023.
  • More information – including announcement of when the 2023-24 "Student List Eligibility:View" screen and prequalification functionality become available, and when 2023-24 claims are being accepted – will be provided over the summer via ISAC's usual means of communication (i.e., the ECACE Scholarship Program News area, the FAA Message Board, and this e-Messaging system).

Join "ECACE Administrators" Subscription Group

If you work directly with your approved institution's administration of the ECACE Scholarship Program – or if you simply are interested in receiving general announcements and processing updates regarding the program – be sure to join the "ECACE Administrators" e-Messaging subscription group.

Existing e-Messaging subscribers may join this group by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link that appears at the bottom of all ISAC e-Messages, selecting the "ECACE Administrators" group in the listing that appears, and then clicking on "Update Profile."

Individuals who may be interested in the "ECACE Administrators" group, but do not currently subscribe to ISAC's e-Messaging service, may sign up at the Financial Aid Administrators (FAAs) e-Messaging page.

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 regarding this e-Message, please contact ISAC's School Services Department by calling toll free at 866.247.2172 or sending an e-mail message to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov.