Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship

The Mayor’s Office, City Colleges of Chicago (CCC)- Harry S. Truman College, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and the Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS) collaborated to launch the Chicago Early Learning Workforce Scholarship (CELWS) initiative. CELWS aims to support Chicagoans and the current Chicago Early Learning workforce as they pursue coursework to earn a credential, degree, endorsement, or licensure to work with young children (birth through Pre-k) and families in Chicago Early Learning programs. The scholarship serves an important role in Chicago’s efforts to expand access to early learning across the city and build a more robust workforce that can help Chicago expand high-quality early learning programs. CELWS provides recipients with meaningful career pathways through partnerships with Institutions of Higher Education, which also offer students personalized supports as they navigate their desired course of study. There are two intended recipients of this scholarship: - Current Chicago Early Learning program staff who would like to advance their career as early childhood professionals. - Chicago residents interested in entering the early childhood workforce. Who else is encouraged to apply? Chicagoans who are: - Parents of children currently enrolled in one of Chicago’s early childhood programs - DACA recipients - Recent High School graduates (including upcoming 2021 graduating class) interested in pursuing a career in early childhood - Recipients must be eligible for employment in a Chicago Early Learning program. (Recipients cannot have any felonies and must be able to pass an FBI, State of Illinois, and Sex Offender background check.)