Section 2764.30  Program Procedures

a)         Qualified applicants shall have completed and filed an application for program participation with the Foundation prior to becoming eligible for scholarship assistance under this Section. Applications shall be made available to qualified applicants by and submitted to the Foundation before a qualified applicant may be designated as a Golden Apple Scholar by the Foundation.

b)         The Foundation shall designate Golden Apple Scholars as defined in their established selection protocol.

c)         Each year, the Foundation shall identify Golden Apple Scholars eligible to receive scholarship assistance from ISAC under this Part by submitting to ISAC any necessary data related to the qualified applicant and, at such time, by certifying that:

1)         Students selected to receive scholarship assistance under this Part meet the eligibility requirements described in Section 2764.20(a) or in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act [110 ILCS 947/52];

2)         Students selected to receive scholarship assistance under this Part have entered into a Program Agreement and Promissory Note with the Foundation that satisfies the requirements listed in this Part; and

3)         Thirty percent of students selected to receive scholarship assistance under this Part in a given fiscal year will be awarded to students residing in counties having a population of fewer than 500,000.

d)         In order to receive scholarship assistance under this Part, a Golden Apple Scholar must have signed a program agreement and promissory note with the Foundation on behalf of ISAC that includes the following stipulations:

1)         the recipient pledges to teach, on a full time basis, for a period of not less than five years and in accordance with any additional commitment to teach in a teacher shortage discipline, which shall include early childhood education;

2)         the recipient shall begin teaching within two years following completion of the postsecondary education degree or certificate program for which the scholarship was awarded, and shall teach on a continuous basis for the required period of time;

3)         the teaching requirement will be fulfilled at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that qualifies for teacher loan cancellation under section 465(a)(2)(A) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(A));

4)         if the teaching requirement is not fulfilled, the scholarship assistance provided under this Part converts to a loan and the recipient must repay the entire amount of the scholarship prorated according to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate equal to five percent and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees;

5)         the recipient agrees to provide the Foundation or ISAC with evidence of compliance with program requirements (e.g., responses to annual follow-up questionnaires, etc.); and

6)         the recipient promises to use the proceeds of the scholarship for educational expenses.

e)         All amounts collected on a scholarship that converts to a loan under this Part, less any portion of those funds that equals the amount in expenses that ISAC has incurred in collecting the debt, shall be remitted to the Comptroller for deposit in the General Revenue Fund.

f)         A recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Part shall not be in violation of the program agreement and promissory note for failing to begin teaching within two years after graduation if, during that period, the recipient:

1)         serves, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces; or

2)         is enrolled full-time in a graduate course of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of higher learning; or

3)         is temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or

4)         is actively seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(3) for one continuous period not to exceed two years, and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or

5)         is taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in Illinois; or

6)         is fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other programs administered by ISAC if the requirements cannot be concurrently fulfilled in a period of time equal to the length of the teaching commitment; or

7)         is participating in a program established by Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or the National Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq., as amended).

g)         If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period shall be completed within 10 years. The Commission shall grant a period of forbearance or deferment during repayment of the loan that shall not be counted toward the 10-year repayment period, if the recipient:

1)         serves, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces; or

2)         is temporarily disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician; or

3)         is pursuing a graduate course of study and is enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time not to exceed three years; or

4)         is seeking and unable to find full-time employment for one continuous period not to exceed two years and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or

5)         withdraws from a course of study leading to licensure/approval in a teacher shortage discipline, but is enrolled at least half-time as an undergraduate for one continuous period of time not to exceed three years.

h)         During the time a recipient qualifies for periods of deferment or forbearance described in subsection (g), payments shall not be required and interest shall not accrue.

i)          A recipient shall enter repayment status on the earliest of the following dates:

1)         the first day of the first calendar month after the recipient has ceased to pursue a course of study leading to licensure as a teacher, but not until six months have elapsed after the cessation of at least half-time enrollment in such a course of study;

2)         the date the Foundation informs ISAC or ISAC otherwise learns that a recipient of scholarship assistance has not fulfilled the teaching obligation; or

3)         the day after the latest date upon which the recipient must have begun teaching after completing the postsecondary education for which the scholarship was awarded.

j)          If a recipient who enters into repayment under subsection (d) subsequently, within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description under subsection (d)(3), the amount owed by the recipient may be reduced in proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed. [110 ILCS 947/50]

k)         A recipient shall not be required to repay the amount of the scholarship received if the recipient becomes permanently and totally disabled, so as to be unable to perform the essential function of a teacher with or without accommodation as determined by a licensed physician, or if a recipient's representative provides ISAC with a death certificate or other evidence that the recipient has died.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 4479, effective March 8, 2024)