HB2329 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 05781 NHT 15856 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB2329

Introduced 2/18/2009, by Rep. Dave Winters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/5.719 new
110 ILCS 947/65.85 new

Amends the School Code and the State Finance Act. Creates the Early Graduation Scholarship Program, to be implemented and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission on or before September 1, 2010, in conjunction with the State Board of Education. Requires each school district that provides instruction in grades 9 through 12 in this State to participate in and promote to students the program. Provides that participating full-time students who graduate from public high school at least one year early shall receive a scholarship in an amount not to exceed two-thirds of the foundation level of support amount specified in the State aid formula provisions of the School Code or the actual cost of tuition, books, and fees, whichever is less, in both the first academic year of postsecondary instruction and the second academic year of postsecondary instruction, to be used to pay all or a portion of the tuition, books, and fees charged at an institution of higher learning in this State for a maximum of 2 academic years. Also provides for scholarships for full-time students who graduate one semester early and part-time students. Contains provisions concerning eligibility, funding, including the creation of the Early Graduation Scholarship Fund, and submission of an annual report. Repeals these provisions on July 1, 2017.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.719 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.719 new)

Sec. 5.719. The Early Graduation Scholarship Fund.

Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.85 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.85 new)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2017)

Sec. 65.85. Early Graduation Scholarship Program.

(a) There is created the Early Graduation Scholarship Program. Each school district that provides instruction in grades 9 through 12 in this State shall participate in and promote to students the Early Graduation Scholarship Program.

(b) The Commission shall develop application forms, procedures, and deadlines to implement and administer the Early Graduation Scholarship Program on or before September 1, 2010, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, and shall select eligible students each year for participation in the Early Graduation Scholarship Program. The school district that the student attends shall notify the State Board of Education and the Commission if the student graduates at least one semester before the student's scheduled graduation date.

(c) Participating full-time students who graduate from public high school at least one year early shall receive a scholarship in an amount not to exceed two-thirds of the foundation level of support amount specified under subsection (B) of Section 18-8.05 of the School Code or the actual cost of tuition, books, and fees, whichever is less, in both the first academic year of postsecondary instruction and the second academic year of postsecondary instruction, to be used to pay all or a portion of the tuition, books, and fees charged at a qualified institution for a maximum of 2 academic years, which must be completed within 36 months after the student's actual graduation date from high school. The amount of a scholarship grant awarded to a participating part-time student enrolled at least half-time for the academic year shall be prorated in accordance with the part-time status of the student.

Participating full-time students who graduate from public high school one semester early shall receive a scholarship grant in an amount not to exceed two-thirds of the foundation level of support amount specified under subsection (B) of Section 18-8.05 of the School Code divided by 2 or the actual cost of tuition, books, and fees, whichever is less, in both the first academic year of postsecondary instruction and the second academic year of postsecondary instruction, to be used to pay all or a portion of the tuition, books, and fees charged at a qualified institution for a maximum of 2 academic years, which must be completed within 36 months after the student's actual graduation date from high school. The amount of a scholarship grant awarded to a participating part-time student enrolled at least half-time for the academic year shall be prorated in accordance with the part-time status of the student.

(d) A student who provides satisfactory proof to the Commission that the student has met all of the following criteria is eligible to submit an application for consideration for a scholarship under the Early Graduation Scholarship Program:

(1) The student has graduated from a public high school in this State at least one semester earlier than the student's class is scheduled to graduate.

(2) The student has achieved a passing score on each component of the Prairie State Achievement Examination under Section 2-3.64 of the School Code.

(3) The student is currently a resident of this State and has been a resident of this State for at least the past 12 months.

(4) The student submits a statement from the qualified institution that details the cost of tuition, books, and fees for that student.

(5) The student has completed and submitted a free application for federal student aid.

(6) The student or the student's parent or legal guardian signs a promissory note for reimbursement pursuant to subsection (j) of this Section.

(e) The school district from which the student graduated shall include the student who graduates early in the school district's student count until the student's class is scheduled to graduate and shall continue to receive per pupil funding from the State under Section 18-8.05 of the School Code minus an amount equal to two-thirds of that per pupil funding for a student who graduates at least one year early or minus an amount equal to two-thirds of that per pupil funding divided by 2 for a student who graduates one semester early, whichever is applicable, until the student's class is scheduled to graduate. The school district shall place the per pupil funding received in the school district's maintenance and operations fund.

(f) The State Board of Education shall deposit an amount equal to two-thirds of the per pupil funding under subsection (e) of this Section for a student who graduates at least one year early or an amount equal to two-thirds of the per pupil funding under subsection (e) of this Section divided by 2 for a student who graduates one semester early, whichever is applicable, into the Early Graduation Scholarship Fund established by this Section.

(g) The Commission shall make scholarship awards from funds appropriated from the Early Graduation Scholarship Fund for the payment of tuition, books, and fees at qualified institutions to students who are selected to participate in the Early Graduation Scholarship Program upon verification of admission, enrollment, and certification of the cost of each student's tuition and fees by the qualified institutions.

(h) If the amount of money available for scholarships under this Section in any fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all eligible applicants, the Commission shall award scholarships to eligible students in the order in which the applications were received by the Commission, except that priority shall be given to eligible students who received a scholarship in the previous fiscal year and who are still in good academic standing at the same qualified institution or who transferred to a different qualified institution but remain in good academic standing at the previous qualified institution. The Commission shall maintain a waiting list for all other applicants.

(i) A qualified institution shall notify the Commission if a student who has received a scholarship under this Section is no longer in good academic standing at the qualified institution or is no longer enrolled at the qualified institution.

(j) Not later than 36 months after the student's actual graduation date from high school, the student or the qualified institution, whichever is applicable, shall reimburse the Early Graduation Scholarship Fund for any scholarship amount received pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section if the student is no longer in good academic standing at the qualified institution or is no longer enrolled at the qualified institution. The Commission may waive the reimbursement requirements of this subsection (j) for good cause shown. A student shall provide proof that the student completed the first year in good academic standing from the qualified institution to the Commission before receiving money for the second year from the Early Graduation Scholarship Fund.

(k) A student who receives a scholarship under this Section shall be allowed, at no additional cost except for fees charged to all students, to both:

(1) participate in extracurricular activities in accordance with Illinois High School Association rules until the student's high school class is scheduled to graduate; and

(2) participate in the student's high school class graduation ceremonies.

(l) The Early Graduation Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of money deposited pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section and all repayments that are received pursuant to subsection (j) of this Section. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Commission for the purposes of this Section, including using up to 5% of the money in the Fund for administrative costs and hiring up to 2 full-time equivalent positions for the implementation and administration of the Early Graduation Scholarship Program.

(m) The Commission shall submit an annual report by December 1 to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Secretary of State. The report shall contain at least the following:

(1) The number of students who graduated at least one year early and the number of students who graduated at least one semester early for each year of implementation of the Early Graduation Scholarship Program, by school district.

(2) The number of scholarships provided pursuant to this Section.

(3) The average amount per scholarship provided pursuant to this Section.

(4) The balance in the Early Graduation Scholarship Fund.

(5) The number of students using a scholarship to attend a qualified institution.

(6) A description of how the Commission expended money for administrative costs of the Early Graduation Scholarship Program pursuant to subsection (l) of this Section.

(n) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2017.