Scholarships > CPS Educators Award

UChicago Launches New Scholarship for Chicago Public School Educators

In recognition of the important work of educators and in honor of their service to the city of Chicago, the University of Chicago is launching the Chicago Public Schools Educators Award Scholarship, a up to full–tuition scholarship to attend UChicago for the children of educators in the Chicago Public Schools.

I applaud the University of Chicago for recognizing Chicago's dedicated teachers, firefighters and police officers by helping their children achieve their dreams of a higher education.

—Mayor Rahm Emanuel

The CPS Educators Award Scholarship is an expansion of UChicago Promise, a multipronged initiative designed to help students and families throughout the City of Chicago gain admission to, pay for, and thrive in college. UChicago Promise currently provides scholarships for the children of Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers, and UChicago police officers. The program also offers scholarships each year to select students attending any Chicago Public School. UChicago Promise is part of the University's far–reaching commitment to help Chicago's students prepare for and attend any of the nation's top colleges and universities.

“This new initiative will help the families of Chicago educators in our own backyard, building on our efforts to enhance preparation and expand the opportunities for all Chicago high school students,“ said John W. Boyer, Dean of the College. “Teachers, police officers and firefighters help make this city work for everyone, and this is an important way to honor their service.”

The new scholarship builds on the success of UChicago Promise, which in addition to providing scholarships for Chicago students, offers free programming for students, educators and counselors in Chicago across a variety of platforms to tackle the barriers to higher education faced by students and families. Started in 2012, UChicago Promise offers Chicago high schools free enrichment programs and free workshops to help students navigate the college admissions and financial aid processes. As a whole, these programs are designed to help Chicago high school students attain access to an excellent college education anywhere.

“I applaud the University of Chicago for recognizing Chicago's dedicated teachers, firefighters and police officers by helping their children achieve their dreams of a higher education,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Chicago's students continue to break high school graduation and college enrollment records, and UChicago Promise scholarships put a world–class education in reach for more Chicago students and families.”

“This new scholarship recognizes the vital role that Chicago Public Schools educators play in the lives of our city's students, while building on the University's longtime partnerships with local schools,” said Derek Douglas, Vice President for Civic Engagement at the University of Chicago. “UChicago Promise programs help prepare hundreds of Chicago students for college each year, giving them essential tools for both academic and career success.”

UChicago Promise includes:

This scholarship recognizes the contribution and sacrifice of our faculty who educate, inspire, and help mentor Chicago's youth.

—Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chief Education Officer of Chicago Public Schools

In addition to recognizing front line teachers in the classroom, the new scholarship will include and recognize the vital role of key educational service providers such as school counselors, speech pathologists, and nurses—as well as paraprofessionals such as teaching assistants, lunchroom workers, school clerks, and custodians, who support and care for our students each day.

“This scholarship recognizes the contribution and sacrifice of our faculty who educate, inspire, and help mentor Chicago's youth,” said Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chief Education Officer of Chicago Public Schools. “UChicago Promise and University of Chicago have been essential partners in helping cultivate the next generation of Chicago's leaders and we're thrilled our students and their families have this critical opportunity.”

The University of Chicago is deeply committed to serving under–resourced and under–served students in the City of Chicago and across the country. UChicago Promise focuses on eliminating barriers to higher education in the University's home city. UChicago has also recently expanded its efforts to ensure access to higher education for all students across the country through the Odyssey Scholarship Program, which provides financial support and career development opportunities for low–income and first–generation students. As part of the expansion of Odyssey, UChicago has eliminated student loans from need–based financial aid packages for all students who are eligible to receive need–based aid and removed the application fees for students applying for financial aid. Odyssey Scholars are also offered a guaranteed funded internship the summer after their first year and lifelong career professional development opportunities.

UChicago is a founding member of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success, a group of colleges and universities dedicated to improving college access for students of all backgrounds by offering a free platform of online tools to assist students in their college search and admissions process.

For more information on UChicago Promise and for college admissions resources, visit promise.uchicago.edu. Candidates for the Chicago Public Schools Educators Award must be accepted to the University of Chicago and be the child of a full–time Chicago Public Schools teacher or school–based staff member.