104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3097
 
Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Theresa Mah
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/22-87
    Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the required support regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) shall include providing time during the school day, not requiring a student to be excused from regularly scheduled class time, to complete or receive help with completion of a financial aid application. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR
 
HB3097LRB104 10902 LNS 20984 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 
522-87 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/22-87)
7    Sec. 22-87. Graduation requirements; Free Application for 
8Federal Student Aid. 
9    (a) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, in addition 
10to any other requirements under this Code, as a prerequisite 
11to receiving a high school diploma from a public high school, 
12the parent or guardian of each student or, if a student is at 
13least 18 years of age or legally emancipated, the student must 
14comply with either of the following:
15        (1) File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
16    with the United States Department of Education or, if 
17    applicable, an application for State financial aid.
18        (2) On a form created by the State Board of Education, 
19    file a waiver with the student's school district 
20    indicating that the parent or guardian or, if applicable, 
21    the student understands what the Free Application for 
22    Federal Student Aid and application for State financial 
23    aid are and has chosen not to file an application under 
 
 
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1    paragraph (1).
2    (b) Each school district with a high school must require 
3each high school student to comply with this Section and must 
4provide to each high school student and, if applicable, his or 
5her parent or guardian any support or assistance necessary to 
6comply with this Section. 
7    Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, this support 
8shall include providing time during the school day, not 
9requiring a student to be excused from regularly scheduled 
10class time, to complete or receive help with completion of a 
11financial aid application as described in subsection (a). The 
12high school may request assistance from the Illinois Student 
13Assistance Commission to support financial aid application 
14completion events at no cost to the high school. 
15    A school district must award a high school diploma to a 
16student who is unable to meet the requirements of subsection 
17(a) due to extenuating circumstances, as determined by the 
18school district, if (i) the student has met all other 
19graduation requirements under this Code and (ii) the principal 
20attests that the school district has made a good faith effort 
21to assist the student or, if applicable, his or her parent or 
22guardian in filing an application or a waiver under subsection 
23(a).
24    (c) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to 
25implement this Section.
26(Source: P.A. 101-180, eff. 6-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
 
 
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1    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
2becoming law.