ECACE Provides Access to Early Childhood Education Training

Louisha Robinson is a student at Roosevelt University who is able to study early childhood education because of The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) program and its scholarship. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLOWERS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP.
Louisha Robinson is a student at Roosevelt University who is able to study early childhood education because of The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) program and its scholarship. PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLOWERS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP.

ECACE Provides Access to Early Childhood Education Training

By Tia Carol Jones

A collective of higher education institutions are working to increase access and completion of degrees and credentials in early childhood education with the goal to increase the early childhood education workforce in the State of Illinois.

The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) was established in 2021 by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board, with the goal to have more than 4,500 students enroll or complete an early childhood education degree or credential by September of this year. There are sixty two member institutions, which include Chicago State University, South Suburban College, Prairie State College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Governors State University and Harold Washington College.

Louisha Robinson is a participant of the ECACE program and is a recipient of the scholarship program. A nurturer at heart, she said early childhood education found her; she was always the babysitter and caring for children. The scholarship program provided more support to her, from assistance by the higher education navigators in filling out the application to having mentors available to her, which she felt personalizes the experience more. Now Robinson, who is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree at Roosevelt University, is an advocate for the program.

“We don’t always know that help is available, so I just make sure they know about this program and that there’s someone who can help fill out this application to apply,” Robinson said.

She added that she tells other people who are considering participating in the program to also apply for the scholarship because it is open to everyone and there is a chance if they apply for the scholarship, they will get it.

The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship program provides financial assistance to students -- tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, as well as transportation. Higher education navigators guide participants through the scholarship process. The first scholarship awards were made March 2022, and during the 2023-2024 school year, it served 4,500 students.

With the ECACE Scholarship, Robinson has been able to use the financial assistance at a college of her choice, which made it more accessible for her because she didn’t have to go to a specific college to receive the funds.

“I am very goal oriented, so once I knew that it was possible for me to go to college, I knew that you would hear me say, ‘Dr. Robinson coming soon.’ I feel that confident because of the ECACE program and with all of the support I have been receiving,” she said.

While Robinson is currently working on her Bachelor’s Degree, the support she is receiving is making her look forward to getting her Master’s Degree and a Doctorate in Early Childhood Education. She knows she can do it because of the support of ECACE.

“I really appreciate the ECACE Program and what they are doing for me, myself, but also just for the field, we really need the support. I’m very grateful to be a part of it,” she said.

For more information about the ECACE Program, visit www.ecace.org.


Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

Joshua Harris- Obama Foundation