Illinois § 65.125

§ 65.125.

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. (a) As used in this Section, "incumbent workforce" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. (b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall implement and administer an early childhood educator scholarship program, to be known as the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. Under the Program, the Commission shall annually award scholarships to early childhood education students enrolled in institutions of higher education participating in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity under the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act with preference given to members of the incumbent workforce. (c) To ensure alignment with Consortium goals and changing workforce needs, the Commission shall work in partnership with the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board in program design, and the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall solicit feedback from the Consortium advisory committee established under Section 25 of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act. (d) In awarding a scholarship under this Section, the Commission may give preference to applicants who received a scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year, to applicants with financial need, or both. (e) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges to continue or return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood care and education field in this State after they complete their program of study. (f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Program. (Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 6-5-24; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)