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HIGHER EDUCATION (110 ILCS 17/) College Planning Act.

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    (110 ILCS 17/1)
    Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the College Planning Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)

    (110 ILCS 17/5)
    Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:
    "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
    "Program" means the College Planning Program established under Section 10 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)

    (110 ILCS 17/10)
    Sec. 10. College Planning Program; establishment. The College Planning Program is established to do all of the following:
        (1) Reduce the number of students who withdraw from
    
high school before graduation.
        (2) Reduce the number of students who fail to begin
    
planning for a postsecondary educational path upon entering high school.
        (3) Increase the number of high school students who
    
are prepared to enter postsecondary educational institutions in this State upon graduation.
        (4) Increase the number of students attaining a
    
quality postsecondary credential within 6 years after graduation from high school.
        (5) Assist this State in meeting the workforce needs
    
of the future.
        (6) Encourage students to attend postsecondary
    
educational institutions in this State by increasing awareness of the need-based, financial aid programs available to State residents attending postsecondary educational institutions in this State.
        (7) Increase timely financial aid application rates
    
among students from the lowest economic quintiles in this State.
        (8) Proactively counsel potential college students to
    
make the most efficient and effective use of need-based, grant funding distributed under the Monetary Award Program under Section 35 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
        (9) Intervene beginning in 8th grade to aggressively
    
promote postsecondary education as a positive alternative to less socially and economically desirable behaviors and options that young students may consider instead of college preparation.
(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)

    (110 ILCS 17/15)
    Sec. 15. Administration.
    (a) The Commission shall administer the Program.
    (b) The Commission shall utilize the Program to target low-income and potential first-generation college students with programs to promote college awareness and planning.
    (c) The Commission shall adopt any rules that it deems necessary to implement the mission of the Program, including without limitation rules regarding a student's record of attendance at events, the determination of qualifying events and programs, information required on the initial application and annual certification, and appeals.
(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)

    (110 ILCS 17/20)
    Sec. 20. Qualifications to participate in the Program. To qualify to participate in the Program, a student must meet all of the following requirements:
        (1) He or she must reside in this State.
        (2) At the time of application to the Program, he or
    
she must be enrolled in grade 8 at a public school in this State or a nonpublic school that is recognized by the State Board of Education and, by the end of grade 8, be enrolled in a public high school in this State or a nonpublic school that is recognized by the State Board of Education.
        (3) At the time of enrollment in the Program, he or
    
she either (i) must not have a custodial parent or guardian who has received a postsecondary degree or (ii) must be eligible to participate in the free and reduced-price lunch program under the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act.
        (4) He or she agrees, in writing, together with the
    
student's custodial parent or guardian, that the student will do all of the following:
            (A) Complete the course requirements specified in
        
Section 27-605 of the School Code and graduate from a secondary school located in this State.
            (B) Not be convicted of a felony offense that
        
would disqualify the student from receipt of federal student aid.
            (C) Timely apply, during grade 12, (i) for
        
admission to a postsecondary institution in this State approved to participate in the Monetary Award Program under Section 35 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act and (ii) for any federal and State student financial assistance available to the student to attend a postsecondary institution in this State.
            (D) Achieve a cumulative grade point average upon
        
graduation from high school of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 grading scale (or its equivalent if another grading scale is used) for courses taken during grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
            (E) Update demographic and contact information
        
required within the initial Program participation application and agreement at least once each academic year on a schedule to be determined by the Commission.
            (F) Take a recognized standardized college
        
entrance examination no later than the end of the 11th grade.
            (G) Participate in college planning and
        
preparation activities required by the Commission as part of the administration of the Program.
            (H) Share personal academic and financial data
        
with the Commission beginning in grade 8 and through the attainment of a bachelor's degree.
(Source: P.A. 104-391, eff. 8-15-25.)

    (110 ILCS 17/25)
    Sec. 25. Program benefits. Subject to appropriation of State, federal, or private funds, the Commission shall deliver the following services and benefits to students enrolled in the Program:
        (1) College and career planning counseling provided
    
by the College Illinois! Corps.
        (2) Assistance with the completion of college
    
admission, scholarship, and financial aid applications, provided by the College Illinois! Corps.
        (3) The opportunity to participate in simplified
    
admission or financial assistance application programs administered by the Commission.
        (4) Regular communication about important dates and
    
procedures in the college planning cycle as well as estimates of future financial aid eligibility.
        (5) Priority notification of eligibility for
    
Commission-administered, need-based, financial aid programs.
        (6) Ongoing college and career counseling while
    
enrolled in a postsecondary institution in this State.
        (7) An assigned college planning counselor for the
    
duration of enrollment in the Program.
        (8) Invitation to participant-only college and career
    
planning workshops for the student and his or her parents or guardian.
(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)

    (110 ILCS 17/30)
    Sec. 30. Program disqualification. If a program participant fails to meet the requirements for continuation in the Program, the student is disqualified from future receipt of Program services and benefits that are not available to all students in this State.
(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)

    (110 ILCS 17/99)
    Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.
(Source: P.A. 97-289, eff. 8-10-11.)