AUTHORITY: Implementing Section 65.125 and authorized by Section 20(f) of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act [110 ILCS 947/65.125 and 20(f)].ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
a) be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen or meet the undocumented student criteria of the RISE Act;
b) be a member of the incumbent workforce, currently working or having worked in the early childhood field in a licensed or license-exempt facility that serves children from birth to age 5;
c) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment, on a full- or part-time basis (at least 3 credit hours), at the undergraduate level at a public or non-profit private 2- or 4-year Gateways-entitled and Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity member institution;
d) be pursuing at least one of the following:
1) an Associate of Applied Science degree (or related certificate) in early childhood education or an associate degree with a concentration in early childhood education;
2) a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, with or without a Professional Educator License; and
e) be maintaining satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution.