The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been approved as an entitled institution for the Gateways to Opportunity EGE Credential Level 5 through 2023. As an entitled institution, students at Illinois have the opportunity to qualify for state-recognized credentials as they take courses or complete a degree through the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is among a small group of institutions in Illinois to be selected for the Gateways to Opportunity Credentials. All Gateways to Opportunity Credentials have competencies that reflect multiple professional standards, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. The faculty members at Illinois have worked diligently to align their courses with the Gateways to Opportunity competencies.

In a time when early childhood education is defining itself as a field that promotes professional development, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champiagn has become entitled to help further this goal by graduating students who are ready to provide quality care and education to young children in Illinois.

The Gateways to Opportunity within the Illinois Professional Development System is designed to provide guidance, support, and recognition to practitioners who serve children and families in Illinois. Gateways to Opportunity is administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) on behalf of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Visit the Gateways to Opportunity website at www.ilgateways.com to learn more.