ISAC Student PortalEarly Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program
Program News
(last updated August 29, 2024)
2024-25 Program Funding
2024-25 Certification
2024-25 Student List
2024-25 Applications
2023-24 Reconciliation – Due to ISAC Notifications
2024-25
Program Funding
The 2025 fiscal year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) appropriation for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program is $5,000,000. For the first time since the program's creation, it will be funded in FY25 by the State of Illinois rather than by federal funds. Because considerably less funding is available, the number of recipients in 2024-25 will be significantly limited, and the program is expected to be able to support only a portion of renewal applicants.
Certification
An August 26 e-Message announces that colleges may access the "Certification List: View" screen within the ECACE system to certify eligibility for 2024-25 ECACE Scholarships. A Certification record is created in the ECACE system after ISAC determines that the ECACE online application process has been completed (this includes: the ECACE application; the corresponding year's FAFSA or, if applicable, the Alternative Application; and, any required documentation) and the applicant meets all initial eligibility requirements (i.e., requirements other than those that must be verified by the college). Only records that need to be certified display on the “Certification List: View” screen.
Further details are provided on the ECACE Certification page, as well as in the ECACE User Guide (which has been updated to reflect the 2024-25 processing cycle).
Student List
Colleges may view a listing of ECACE records by accessing the ECACE system and selecting the Student tab to display the "Student List Eligibility: View" screen. Records for applicants who listed the institution on their applications and whose applications have been reviewed by ISAC staff for completeness will be included.
As of late August 2024, the focus of ISAC's review is renewal applicants (i.e., those who received an ECACE Scholarship during the 2023-24 academic year) whose applications were received by the August 11, 2024 priority access to funding date.
Further details are provided in the ECACE User Guide, which has been updated to reflect the 2024-25 processing cycle.
Applications
The 2024-25 ECACE Scholarship Program interactive application is no longer being accepted.
The ECACE application and the FAFSA or Alternative Application must be completed and submitted on or before the date for priority access to funding which, for the 2024-25 application, was August 11, 2024. Applications received after that date continued to be given consideration for as long as funding remained available after timely, qualified applicants had been awarded.
Further details, including proof of employment requirements, are provided at the Application Procedures for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program page.
What's New
A July 18 e-Message announces that, while most program details remain the same for the 2024-25 ECACE Scholarship processing cycle, several important changes have taken effect for this program.
- For the first time since the program's creation, it will be funded by the State of Illinois rather than by federal funds.
- Because considerably less funding is available, the number of recipients in 2024-25 will likely be significantly limited, and – while new applicants may apply – the program is expected to be able to support only a portion of renewal applicants (i.e., applicants who received program funding in the prior year).
- The maximum annual award a student may receive is the lesser of $7,500 or the cost of attendance after other aid is considered.
- Post-baccalaureate students (i.e., graduate students) are not eligible to complete the 2024-25 ECACE Scholarship application – only undergraduate students may apply.
- 2024-25 ECACE Scholarships will not fund the summer 2025 term (i.e., awards will be made for the fall, winter and spring terms only).
- Awarding Prioritization is based on an applicant's renewal or new status and their Student Aid Index (SAI), from lowest to highest.
- The SAI is calculated for most students using data reported on the 2024-25 FAFSA.
- For some qualifying students, data from the 2024-25 Alternative Application may also be used to calculate the SAI.
- Timely renewal applicants who received an ECACE Scholarship under the federally-funded program in the prior academic year and continue to meet all program eligibility requirements will receive awarding priority over timely new applicants. Please note that it is very unlikely there will be sufficient funding to award any new applicants in the 2024-25 academic year
2023-24
Reconciliation – Due to ISAC Notifications
Notifications detailing the outstanding amount that must be refunded to ISAC for 2023-24 ECACE Scholarships were e-mailed to financial aid directors in early August. Review the information in the notification and return the appropriate amount – along with a completed Gift Assistance Programs Refund Check Form – no later than September 30, 2024.
Details about returning funds to ISAC and the payment offset and reconciliation process are provided in the Refunds and Unpaid Claims section of the Processes area.
