HB0082 Summary: Early Childhood Scholarship Support Act

• Establishes the Early Childhood Scholarship Support Program providing scholarships up to $4,000 per qualifying kindergarten-age child to pay for early childhood program costs.

• Defines qualifying pupils as state residents eligible for free/reduced-price lunch under the national school lunch program who will enroll full-time in kindergarten.

• Creates the Early Childhood Scholarship Support Fund through a dedicated Illinois Lottery scratch-off game, with net revenues dedicated solely to funding the scholarships.

• Operates as a pilot program from the 2014-2015 school year through the 2018-2019 school year, with the State Board of Education administering applications, approvals, and payments.

• Exempts scholarship amounts from Illinois income tax as non-taxable income and requires a report by December 31, 2017 assessing program effectiveness and recommending whether to extend or expand it.