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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.
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Section 15. Administration. |
(a) The Commission shall administer the Program. |
(b) The Commission shall utilize the Program to target |
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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.
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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.
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(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 |
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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. |
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(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.
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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 |
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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.
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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.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |
becoming law.
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