Frequently asked questions (FAqs)
What exactly is Grow Your Own Teachers and Grow YOur Own Illinois (GYO-IL)?
Grow Your Own Teachers is a comprehensive state grant program for aspiring teachers that values racial diversity in the teacher profession, as well as community wisdom and investment and collaborative partnerships as necessary to growing more diverse teachers.
Grow Your Own Illinois (GYO-IL) is a not-for-profit organization that serves as the state administrator of the grant program. GYO-IL’s mission is to support racially diverse and community-connected individuals to become certified teachers in their local schools in order to improve the educational outcomes for all students.
GYO-IL provides for the distribution of grant funds to “consortia” across the state through a competitive process. A consortium is composed at least one 4-year institution of higher education with an Illinois accredited teacher education program, at least one school district or group of schools, at least one community college, and one or more community organizations. A consortium may also include a school employee union or regional office of education.
Through their consortia, GYO-IL participants receive financial, academic, and social supports in completing their PK-12 initial teaching licensure program. In return, GYO-IL graduates commit to teaching at least five years in a hard-to-staff school or position.
GYO-IL is more than a grant program! Our candidates and graduates are deeply embedded in and dedicated to their local communities. Recruitment and selection begins at the community level. Having a demonstrable commitment to one’s communities is a core requirement for admission. Throughout the program, GYO-IL supports candidates to strengthen ties in the communities in which they live and work. GYO-IL’s goal is to return teacher candidates back to their home communities.
Is GYO-IL for me?
Are you committed to classroom teaching for at least five years in a hard-to-staff school or position? Are you engaged and invested in your community? Are social, racial, economic and educational justice important to you? If you have answered yes to all of these questions, GYO-IL is for you!
GYO-IL recruits and supports underrepresented individuals in the teaching profession: paraprofessionals, parents and community members, and students with non-traditional backgrounds—students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree and who begins a baccalaureate program at a point in time other than immediately following graduation from high school—who are passionate about classroom teaching in their local schools but may not be able to afford the cost of a teacher licensure program. GYO-IL participants are racially diverse teacher candidates who work full or part-time and are committed to teaching in the communities in which/near where they will live.
Is there a GYO-IL CONSORTIUM program near me?
GYO-IL currently administers grants to consortia programs in Chicago, Lake County, Peoria, Charleston (EIU) and Carbondale (SIU-C). In FY24, we are working with Northern Illinois (NIU), Central Illinois (UIS), and Western Illinois (WIU) on developing their consortium programs.
Do I have to live in one of the CONSORTIUM REGIONS?
As a participant in GYO-IL, you are required to attend in-person monthly consortium meetings. You should only apply if you live close enough to the consortium region to meet this requirement. You must also be a resident of Illinois.
What SPECIFIC supports do GYO-IL CONSORTIA PROGRAMS provide?
GYO-IL’s forgivable loan primarily pays for tuition, fees, and books for an initial teaching license at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Each candidate is eligible for up to $25,000 dollars over the trajectory of their teaching licensure program. Each candidate’s licensure program length varies according to the university licensure program in which they are enrolled.
When state monies are available, GYO-IL consortia provide additional financial assistance to meet the “hidden” costs of attending college (e.g. transportation dollars). GYO-IL also equips candidates with a laptop loan and offers tutoring and content test preparation. Additionally, when candidates are student teaching, GYO-IL provides a stipend to help those who have to quit or cannot work other jobs.
All candidates are assigned a coordinator who checks in regularly to offer customized support. Through required monthly meetings, candidates also receive in-kind professional development in culturally sustaining pedagogy as well as trainings ranging from leadership development to financial literacy. The monthly consortium meetings also serve as rich professional and personal networking oppotunities.
The comprehensive supports GYO-IL candidates receive while they are enrolled in school does not end at graduation. GYO-IL assists graduates with teaching job placement and mentorship opportunities to enhance and deepen their skills as well as to encourage their retention.
Does THE GYO FORGIVEABLE LOAN Cover All Tuition Costs?
No. The $25,000 in tuition, fees and books for each candidate may not cover all tuition costs. GYO loan monies are “second dollars”. GYO requires candidates to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year; tuition payments are made directly to each candidate’s college/university each term the candidate is enrolled after all other financial aid has been applied (and again up to $25,000). The amount of assistance GYO is able to provide each year also varies depending on the number of teacher candidates enrolled and the amount of state funding available. GYO-IL encourages all candidates to apply for additional scholarships to meet the expenses of licensure.
What are the Requirements of GYO-IL CONSORTIA ProgramS?
If you are admitted, you will be required to meet all of the parameters of your GYO contract: meet regularly with your assigned coordinator; attend monthly meetings; pass all of the required tests, adhere to all requirements of the college or university; and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Upon graduation you will be required to teach for at least five years in a hard-to-staff school or position. If you do not complete the program, or do not teach for five years in a hard-to-staff school, you will be required to repay the forgivable loans you received.
Is GYO a teacher licensing program?
No. GYO supports aspiring teachers, but we are not a license-granting program. If you are admitted into a GYO program, you will also need to apply separately for entrance into a university in your consortium community, provided it is in an approved teacher preparation (licensure) program. A list of universities with approved programs in Illinois can be found by clicking here: https://www.isbe.net/doap
CAN THE LOAN BE APPLIED TO THE COST OF classes at a community college?
Yes, as long as the classes are in alignment with a teacher preparation program and are transferrable to a four-year university licensure program.
HOW DO I APPLY?
For more information about applying to each consortia program, please visit the Application Process and Application Requirements page for more information and instructions. In short applicants must complete an online form and provide the following:
Copies of all college transcripts
If you have not attended college, please provide proof of a high school diploma or GED.
Writing sample as specified in the application
Two Letters of Recommendation
Do I already HAVE TO be enrolled in a college/university to apply to A GYO-IL Program?
No. Many GYO-IL candidates have been out of the classroom (as a student) for an extended period of time. You can apply to GYO-IL without being enrolled in a college or university, but if you are admitted, you must enroll in an approved teacher preparation program and begin working towards your teacher’s license to receive tuition and other support.
Does it matter what kind of licensure program I enroll in?
GYO-IL supports candidates in a variety of program types that lead to a Professional Educators License (PEL) in the state of Illinois. These include:
Programs that lead to a Bachelor’s degree and PEL
Programs that lead to a Master’s degree and PEL
PEL-only granting programs such as Teacher Licensing Programs (TLP)
GYO-IL does NOT provide the forgivable loan to individuals who already have a PEL who are returning to school for additional studies, or those who are enrolled in non-licensure degree programs. If you are unsure if your program qualifies, please email info@gyo-il.org
Who can I contact with questions?
You can reach GYO-IL by phone at: 773-322-7419
Or by email at: info@gyo-il.org