Public Act 097-0289
 
HB1710 EnrolledLRB097 00225 NHT 50810 b

    AN ACT concerning education.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
College Planning Act.
 
    Section 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.
 
    Section 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.
 
    Section 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.
 
    Section 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 27-22 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.
 
    Section 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.
 
    Section 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.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.