The ECACE Scholarship Program is a transformative initiative that supports individuals currently or previously working in early childhood education in earning additional credentials or degrees. By investing in the education of these dedicated professionals, Illinois is building a stronger, more prepared workforce to fully support quality care and education for families and children.

Funding ECACE at $20 million has the following benefits: 

Workforce Challenges and High Demand

* Early childhood educators often face significant barriers to accessing higher education, including the high cost of tuition, lack of flexible learning options, and minimal financial support. 

* These challenges deter prospective students, exacerbating workforce shortages in a field that already struggles with low wages and limited career advancement opportunities.

* The demand for the ECACE Scholarship far exceeds current funding levels. In the first four weeks of the 2024-2025 academic year alone, over 3,000 educators applied for scholarships. 

* However, with only $5 million allocated, just 666 scholarships could be awarded. This leaves thousands of qualified applicants without the resources to pursue their education and improve their practice.

Economic and Workforce Benefits

* Expanding ECACE funding is not just an investment in educators, it is an investment in Illinois’ economy. Childcare shortages cost Illinois $4.9 billion annually in lost revenue, workforce participation, and business stability.

* A well-funded ECACE program would expand the early childhood workforce, alleviating child care deserts and enabling more parents to participate in the workforce. The resulting increase in workforce participation would boost state tax revenues and strengthen local economies.

Unintended Consequences of Underfunding

* Without adequate funding, Illinois risks worsening child care deserts, limiting families’ access to early education and care. Undermining initiatives like Smart Start Illinois, which aims to expand preschool access by creating 20,000 new slots by 2027.

* Compromising the quality of early education by potentially lowering licensing standards to address teacher shortages, which could negatively impact young children's learning and development.

$20 million in ECACE funding for FY26 is essential to addressing these challenges and ensuring Illinois remains a leader in early childhood education. By supporting this funding increase, you will:

* Empower thousands of early childhood educators to pursue higher education and advance their careers.

* Alleviate child care deserts, improving access for Illinois families.

* Strengthen Illinois’ economy by enabling greater workforce participation and reducing the long-term costs of underinvestment in early education.

I urge you to prioritize this investment in Illinois’ future by ensuring $20 million for the ECACE scholarship. Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to supporting our children, families, and workforce.