Section 50.730  Application for Credentials

a)         The Gateways to Opportunity Credentials shall be available through two application routes:

1)         The Direct Route Application Process

The applicant submits an application, college transcripts, and a portfolio verifying experience and professional contributions to the Gateways to Opportunity Credential Office.

2)         The Entitled Route Program

The applicant successfully completes approved college coursework that covers the Core Professional Knowledge for each specific credential at the entitled education institution.  An entitled education institution is a college or university that has aligned its coursework with specific credential benchmarks based on State and national standards identified in Section 50.750(c) and meets additional credential requirements through coursework.  Applicants can find additional information about entitled education institutions at:  http://www.ilgateways.com/en/gateways-credential-entitlement-information.

b)         The applicant shall be responsible for providing all information and documentation required to demonstrate his or her qualifications for a particular credential to the Gateways to Opportunity Credential Office, specifically: 

1)         a Credential Application, available from the Gateways to Opportunity Credential Office, 1226 Towanda Plaza, Bloomington, Illinois 61701;

2)         official college transcripts from the higher education institutions; and

3)         a portfolio verifying experience and professional contributions.

c)         The Gateways to Opportunity Credential Application can be accessed at: www.ilgateways.com/en/participant-application.

d)        The information and documentation identified in Section 50.730(b) is reviewed according to the appropriate Credential Framework (see Section 50.740) that can be found at http://www.ilgateways.com/en/gateways-to-opportunity-credentials.

e)         The Department or its agents will notify applicants, in writing, of eligibility for a credential within 60 days after receipt of all required documentation.  Applicants that disagree with the credential determination may request reconsideration by writing to the IDHS Bureau of Child Care and Development (BCCD), 400 W. Lawrence, Springfield, Illinois 62762, within 60 days after notification of the original determination.  The final decision on eligibility for credentials will be made by the Child Care Professional Development Manager in consultation with the BCCD Bureau Chief.  The criteria used during reconsideration by DHS' Bureau of Child Care and Development will be the same Credential Framework used to determine eligibility.  The Credential Framework is located in Section 50.740 and on the GTO website at http://www.ilgateways.com/en/gateways-to-opportunity-credentials.

(Source:  Added at 36 Ill. Reg. 16085, effective October 29, 2012)