IL HB5122

Department of Children and Family Services shall select a minimum of 53 students annually (at least 4 children of veterans) to receive scholarships and fee waivers for post-secondary education, with eligibility extended for at least 5 years if students maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Scholarship and fee waiver recipients are selected from youth in DCFS care, youth who aged out at 18 or older, and youth formerly in care who were adopted or placed in private guardianship, and must have earned a high school diploma or equivalency before applying.

Youth not selected for scholarships receive tuition and fee waivers at Illinois community colleges and public universities if they enroll before age 26, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree.

Tuition and fee waivers cover amounts exceeding federal Pell Grant and Illinois Monetary Award Program assistance, with eligibility extended for students who served in the military, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or U.S. Public Health Service.

Department shall collect and report annually to the General Assembly on scholarship and waiver program success metrics, including application and completion rates, average time to degree, and reasons for non-completion.