Scholarship Recipient Responsibilities

Applicants must read the Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and have a clear understanding of their responsibilities with the Gateways Scholarship Program.

When to Contact Your Gateways Scholarship Counselor

• Before registering for coursework.
• If there are any changes in the scholarship recipient’s coursework status (e.g., dropped or withdrawn from courses).
• If there are any changes to the scholarship recipient’s employment status.

Coursework

• Scholarship recipients must commit to attend classes and successfully complete agreed upon coursework for each contract signed.
• Scholarship recipients are responsible for enrolling in classes in a timely manner (see Scholarship Application, Contract, and Course Registration Timelines page).
• The Gateways Scholarship Program will only pay for a course one time.
  • If a scholarship recipient must repeat course due to receiving a “D” or “F,” the recipient will be responsible for paying for the course him/herself.

Commitment to Early Care and Education or School-Age Child Care

• Scholarship recipients who leave their employment during a contract period must be re-employed in ECE or school-age child care for a minimum of six months before re-applying to the Gateways Scholarship Program.
  
  
• Upon completion of any contract, scholarship recipients must make a work commitment to ECE or school-age child care, as follows:
  • Scholarship recipients receiving a CDA/CCP will remain in ECE or school-age child care for six months.
  • Scholarship recipients completing coursework for a one-year contract period will remain in ECE or school-age child care for one year.
  • Scholarship recipients completing an associate’s degree will remain in ECE or school-age child care for one year.
  • Scholarship recipients receiving a bachelor’s degree will remain in ECE or school-age child care for two years.
  • Scholarship recipients receiving a master’s degree will remain in ECE or school-age child care for two years.
    
    
• In order to receive the commitment period bonus, scholarship recipients are responsible for maintaining contact with INCCRRA and providing valid proof/documentation of their commitment to ECE or school-age child care. Gateways will provide periodic notification and a form to submit so that recipients can confirm continued work commitment and employment.
  
  
• Scholarship recipients who leave ECE or school-age child care during a work commitment period are responsible for reimbursing Gateways the cost of tuition, fees, and books paid for the last contract.

Billing and Reimbursement

• Applicants failing to register before allotted time may be required to pay the cost of tuition and books up front and then may be reimbursed by the Gateways Scholarship Program. Applicants who wish to take 1–2 courses only will be reimbursed for late registration as needed.

• It is the recipient’s responsibility to provide prompt payment upon receipt of an invoice or balance due to the Gateways Scholarship Program.
  
  
• Failure to pay may result in receipts being ineligible to participate in the program in the future and/or being sent to a collection agency.
  
  
• Scholarship recipients are responsible for reporting income from the Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program bonus and any other payments to the recipient to the IRS on annual tax returns in accordance with IRS rules and regulations.

End of Semester, Term, and Contract Requirements

• At end of semester/term, scholarship recipients will need to have all grades submitted and balance paid before being allowed to register for more coursework.
  • Grade report (must have name or SSN, student ID, etc.).

• Scholarship recipients will need to have all grades submitted and balance paid before being allowed to register for more coursework.
  
  
• At end of a contract (June 30th), scholarship recipients must provide the following in order to renew his/her contract:
  • Current W-2 (cannot be handwritten)
  • Current W-9 (if applicable based upon income)
  • IRS Schedule C (family child care only)
  • IRS Form 8829 (family child care only)
  • Four weeks of most recent pay stubs (center employees/school-age employees/family child care provider assistants only)
  • Signed contract
  • Official Transcript
  
  Scholarship recipients will need to have all grades submitted and balance paid before being allowed to register for more coursework.