Comparison Chart of ISAC Educator Programs
2025-2026 Academic Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship | Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois | Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver | Teachers of Illinois Scholarship | TEACH Grant Program (Federal program) | |
| Priority Application Date | May 19, 2025 | April 1, 2025 | March 1, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | No set date |
| Maximum Award (cannot exceed the cost of attendance) | Up to $7,500 per academic year | Up to $2,500 during the first or second year as a Golden Apple Scholar and up to $5,000 during the third, fourth, or fifth year as a Scholar | Exemption from paying tuition and mandatory fees for up to 4 calendar years | Up to $7,500 per academic year, maximum of 8 semesters or 12 quarters | Up to $4,000 per academic year |
| Eligible Expenses Covered | Up to the total cost of attendance after other financial aid. Cannot exceed cost of attendance. | Tuition, mandatory fees, room and board (or commuter allowances), Cannot exceed cost of attendance when combined with other aid. | Tuition and mandatory fees | Up to the total cost of attendance after other financial aid. Cannot exceed the cost of attendance. | Up to the total cost of attendance after other financial aid. Cannot exceed cost of attendance. |
| Eligible Institutions | Gateways-entitled and ECACE-member public or non-profit private 2- or 4-year institutions | Golden Apple Foundation-approved Illinois public and private colleges | ISAC-approved Illinois public 4-year colleges offering a concentration in special education | ISAC-approved Illinois public or private colleges | Institutions participating in the TEACH Grant Program |
| Eligible Program of Study | Associate of Applied Science degree (or related certificate) in early childhood education, associate degree with a concentration in early childhood education, or a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, with or without a Professional Educator License. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education are not eligible. | Postsecondary course of study leading to an initial teacher licensure or taking additional courses needed to gain Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approval to teach, including alternative teacher licensure | Coursework required for initial licensure in any area of special education as determined by the university | Coursework required for initial teaching licensure including alternative teacher licensure, teaching endorsement or master’s degree, or teacher licensure after receiving a College and Career Pathway Endorsement | Undergraduate and/or post-baccalaureate coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching |
| Teaching Commitment | Recipients are expected to continue or return to teaching or providing direct services in the early childhood care and education field in the State of Illinois after completion of their program of study | Recipients must sign a promissory note and commit to teaching full time for at least 5 years at an eligible school, beginning within 2 years of completion of their program of study | Recipients commit to teaching full time for at least 2 of the 5 years immediately following completion of their education, beginning within 1 year of completion of their studies | Recipients commit to teaching full time at an eligible school for at least 1 year per year they received scholarship assistance, beginning within 1 year of completion of their studies | Recipients commit to teaching full time for at least 4 years in a highneed field in a qualifying school or educational service agency within 8 calendar years after completion of their studies |
| Repayment (if teaching commitment is not fulfilled) | None | 5% interest accrues from the repayment date if teaching commitment is not fulfilled | 5% interest accrues from the repayment date if teaching commitment is not fulfilled | 5% interest accrues from repayment date if teaching commitment is not fulfilled | Conversion to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan with interest rate equal to current loan rate accrues from disbursement date if teaching commitment is not fulfilled |
| Special Considerations | Recipients who accept a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program award may not accept an Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver or Teachers of Illinois Scholarship for the same academic period. | Recipients who accept a Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver award may not accept a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program award or Teachers of Illinois Scholarship award for the same academic period. | Recipients who accept a Teachers of Illinois Scholarship award may not accept an Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver or Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program award for the same academic period. | ||