Bill Text: IL HB3065 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Amends the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Act. Makes changes concerning definitions; the Program Board; program policy; grant eligibility; institution and institutional representative responsibilities; applying for, determining, and administering awards; award conditions; penalties; the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act; and applicability. Repeals a Section concerning continuing participants. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes changes concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program. Repeals a Section concerning equal opportunity scholarships. Amends the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act to remove a provision with respect to reserving a portion of funds for awards to certain minority applicants. Amends the Transitions in Education Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7)

Status: (Passed) 2025-11-21 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0437 [HB3065 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB3065-Enrolled.html

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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Transitions in Education Act is amended by
changing Section 130-5 as follows:
(110 ILCS 180/130-5)
Sec. 130-5. Findings; policies.
(a) The General Assembly finds the following:
(1) Teachers are the single most important in-school
factor in supporting student outcomes and success; yet,
Illinois is suffering from a profound teacher shortage
across the State.
(2) To reverse this shortage, Illinois needs to
develop and invest in a robust and diverse educator
pipeline, addressing any barriers or gaps that limit high
quality candidates, particularly candidates of color, from
becoming teachers.
(3) Illinois loses many high quality, diverse educator
candidates in postsecondary programs due to confusion or
lack of course transfer credits and course articulation
from Illinois's 2-year to 4-year institutions.
(4) Lack of alignment and transferability of course
credits may often force candidates to spend additional

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time and money to earn a degree or lead to an inability to
complete a degree.
(5) In 1993, the Board of Higher Education, the
Illinois Community College Board, and the Transfer
Coordinators of Illinois Colleges and Universities brought
together faculty from public and independent, associate,
and baccalaureate degree-granting institutions across the
State to develop the Illinois Articulation Initiative
(IAI).
(6) The goal of IAI is to facilitate the transfer of
courses from one participating college or university to
another in order to complete a baccalaureate degree.
(7) The Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR)
Act, as mandated by subsection (b) of Section 25 of the
Act, is designed to facilitate transfer among Illinois
public institutions, particularly for students with a
completed Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science
degree.
(8) While Illinois is a leading state for college
completion rates for adult learners and transfer students
from community colleges, it needs to increase the number
of high-quality postsecondary teaching credentials to meet
the demands of our schools and education workforce.
(9) With the rising costs of higher education for
Illinois students and families, the State needs to ensure
to the maximize extent possible that community college

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courses will transfer with full credit for the student and
be accepted at an Illinois public or private institution
as they pursue a baccalaureate degree in education.
(10) Illinois can do this by improving transitions all
along the education pipeline; for postsecondary education,
this means strengthening articulation through stable
funding and the expansion of transfer tools, such as
Transferology and the IAI through development of an
objective measure of transfer and acceptance of credits in
education degrees.
(11) The IAI Education Pathway can be modeled off of
existing IAI major pathways like Early Childhood Education
and Criminal Justice.
(b) The General Assembly encourages the Board of Higher
Education, the State Board of Education, and the Illinois
Community College Board, as part of the IAI, to do the
following:
(1) The Board of Higher Education, the State Board of
Education, and the Illinois Community College Board are
encouraged to jointly establish a task force for a Major
Panel in Education and identify respective recommended
major courses that would be accepted as credit toward the
education major at the receiving institutions.
(2) As part of the report on the status of the Illinois
Articulation Initiative pursuant to Section 25 of the
Illinois Articulation Initiative Act, the Board of Higher

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Education and the Illinois Community College Board are
encouraged to include in the annual report to the General
Assembly, the Governor, and the Illinois P-20 Council the
progress made on the task force on the Education Major
Panel.
(3) The Board of Higher Education, the State Board of
Education, and the Illinois Community College Board are
encouraged to further promote and encourage the enrollment
of minority students into educator preparation programs,
such as the annual information session about the Minority
Teachers of Illinois scholarship program pursuant to
subsection (q) of Section 50 of the Higher Education
Student Assistance Act.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)
Section 10. The Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in
Illinois Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8,
10, and 11 and by adding Sections 7.5, 8.5, 11.10, and 11.15 as
follows:
(110 ILCS 930/2) (from Ch. 144, par. 2302)
Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the
context otherwise requires:
"Academic year" means the period of time beginning with
the fall term in one calendar year and running through the end
of the summer term in the following calendar year.

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"Board" means the Board of Higher Education.
"DFI" means the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in
Illinois Program of financial assistance to minorities who are
traditionally underrepresented as participants in
postsecondary education. The program shall assist successful
applicants them in pursuing a graduate or professional degree
and shall also assist program graduates to find employment at
an Illinois institution of higher education, including a
community college, in a faculty or staff position.
"Illinois resident" means any United States citizen or
lawful permanent resident of the United States who meets at
least one of the following requirements:
(1) has earned a degree from an institution of higher
education authorized to operate in this State; or
(2) is a registered voter in this State and has lived
in this State for a period of at least 3 years prior to
applying for a grant under this Act.
The status of Illinois residency of a student at the time
of initial matriculation in the DFI shall hold for his or her
entire time in his or her graduate or professional study at the
DFI institution.
"Institutional representative" means the designated
individual who is responsible for coordinating DFI activities
at each qualified institution of higher education.
"Program Board" means the entity created to administer the
grant program authorized by this Act.

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"Qualified institution of higher education" means a
qualifying publicly or privately operated educational
institution located within Illinois (i) that offers
instruction leading toward or prerequisite to an academic or
professional degree beyond the baccalaureate degree, excluding
theological schools, and (ii) that is authorized to operate in
the State of Illinois, and (iii) in which at least 45% of
students receive federal Pell Grants, which shall be based on
the 3-year average proportion of federal Pell Grant recipients
at Illinois public universities using the most recent data
available to the Board.
"Racial minority" means a person who is a citizen of the
United States or a lawful permanent resident of the United
States and who is any of the following:
(1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person having
origins in any of the original peoples of North and South
America, including Central America, and who maintains
tribal affiliation or community attachment).
(2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the
Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to,
Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan,
the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam).
(3) Black or African American (a person having origins
in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
(4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban, Mexican,

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Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish
culture or origin, regardless of race).
(5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
person having origins in any of the original peoples of
Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
(Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22; 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)
(110 ILCS 930/3) (from Ch. 144, par. 2303)
Sec. 3. Composition of the Program Board. The Program
Board shall be comprised of 11 members and shall be appointed
by the Board of Higher Education. The Board shall name the
chair person of the Program Board. The Program Board shall
name the vice chair person of the Program Board and make any
necessary subcommittee appointments. Persons appointed to the
Program Board shall include, but need not be limited to,
individuals who are in leadership positions in public
institutions of higher education, including community
colleges. Program Board members shall serve 2-year terms and
shall continue to serve until a replacement or reappointment
is determined. There are no term limits for members of the
Program Board. Illinois institutions that grant doctoral
degrees must have representation on the Program Board.
The Board shall assure that racial minorities who are
traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education
programs and activities are members of the Program Board.
(Source: P.A. 101-354, eff. 8-9-19.)

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(110 ILCS 930/4) (from Ch. 144, par. 2304)
Sec. 4. Responsibilities of the Program Board. The Program
Board shall be responsible for:
(a) Establishing policy for administration of the DFI
grant program authorized under this Act, including program
guidelines for the operation of the DFI and criteria to
promote placement of grant recipients.
(b) Creating the application materials, setting
application deadlines, reviewing applications, Reviewing
and approving applications for participation in the DFI
grant program.
(c) Establishing subcommittees or panels as necessary
to review applications and promote student placement.
(d) Reporting annually to the Board on program
outcomes and results, including lists of new and
continuing scholarship award recipients by institution,
level, and field of study; lists of recipients retained in
the program from the previous year; lists of placements of
most recent program graduates; a description of
institutional efforts to place program graduates; and a
description of policy and administrative actions designed
to increase placement of grant recipients.
(e) Disseminating information regarding the DFI to
qualified institutions of higher education for
distribution.

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(f) Prioritizing fields of study for awarding DFI
funds annually.
(g) Meeting at least 3 times per year.
(Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)
(110 ILCS 930/6) (from Ch. 144, par. 2306)
Sec. 6. DFI grants. A program of financial assistance is
established to implement the policy of encouraging minority
students to enroll and complete academic programs at the
postbaccalaureate level and to enhance the diversity of
faculty and staff of Illinois institutions of higher
education. The Board of Higher Education shall provide
administrative assistance for the Program Board and shall
distribute funds appropriated by the General Assembly for this
purpose in accordance with decisions made by the Program
Board.
(Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)
(110 ILCS 930/7) (from Ch. 144, par. 2307)
Sec. 7. Eligibility for DFI grants. Institutions of higher
education shall verify that student applicants meet the
eligibility requirements for DFI grants. An individual is
eligible for an award under the provisions of this Act if when
the Program Board finds:
(a) that That the individual is an Illinois a resident
of this State and a citizen or lawful permanent resident

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of the United States;
(b) (blank); That the individual is a member of a
racial minority as defined under the terms of this Act;
(c) that That the individual has earned any
educational diploma at an institution of education located
in this State, or is an Illinois a resident of the State
for no less than 3 three years prior to applying for the
grant, and the individual holds must hold a baccalaureate
degree from an institution of higher education authorized
to operate in this State learning;
(d) that That the individual's financial resources are
such that, in the absence of a DFI grant, the individual
will be prevented from pursuing a graduate or professional
degree at a qualified institution of higher education of
his or her choice;
(e) that That the individual has above average
academic ability to pursue a graduate or professional
degree, as evidenced by the following:
(1) a minimum grade point average of a C+ (2.75 on
a grade scale of 4.00 = A) in the last 60 hours of
undergraduate work; and
(2) admission to a post-baccalaureate degree
program at a qualified institution of higher
education; and
(f) that That the individual meets other
qualifications, which shall be established by the Program

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Board; .
(g) that the individual was a federal Pell Grant
recipient at any point while earning a baccalaureate
degree;
(h) that the individual is admitted as a full-time
student, as defined by the institution of higher
education, for at least 9 months of the year pursuing a
doctoral, master's, or post-baccalaureate professional
degree program at a qualified institution of higher
education;
(i) that the individual has signed an agreement to
meet this Act's employment conditions if a DFI award is
accepted; and
(j) in order to maintain eligibility in the DFI and in
order to be considered for subsequent DFI grants, that the
individual meets the scholastic requirements and
eligibility for financial assistance required by the
institution of higher education in which he or she is
enrolled as a DFI participant.
Grant funds shall be awarded only to those persons
pursuing a graduate or professional degree program at a
qualified institution of higher education.
The Board shall by rule promulgate, pursuant to the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, precise standards to be
used by the Program Board to determine whether a program
applicant has above average academic ability to pursue a

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graduate or professional degree.
(Source: P.A. 102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)
(110 ILCS 930/7.5 new)
Sec. 7.5. Institution and institutional representative
responsibilities.
(a) A DFI institution shall:
(1) be a qualified institution of higher education;
(2) commit to providing leadership, information, and
placement opportunities for DFI fellows;
(3) designate an institutional representative; and
(4) recover funds provided to a student who does not
meet the conditions of an award under Section 10 of this
Act and return the funds to the Board.
(b) A DFI representative shall:
(1) actively recruit students who will be eligible for
DFI awards and verify to the Program Board that applicants
for DFI financial assistance meet all eligibility
requirements;
(2) maintain records for award recipients, including
DFI application materials, contracts, and records of award
payments;
(3) provide award recipients with academic and support
services, such as mentoring, counseling, and other
activities that would enhance the chances for degree
completion and success in achieving the goals of the DFI;

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(4) supervise the payment of awards from funds awarded
by the Program Board;
(5) collect, process, and forward to the Program
Board, by the announced deadline each spring, all new
applications and renewal forms from eligible students; and
(6) assist award recipients who complete their program
of study in seeking a full-time teaching or administrative
position at an Illinois institution of higher education or
a full-time position as an employee of this State in an
educational-related capacity; such positions may include,
without limitation, administrative positions in State
elementary, secondary, or higher education agencies.
(110 ILCS 930/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 2308)
Sec. 8. Application. The Program Board shall design the
application for the DFI award and determine the timetable for
submission of the application. A student shall apply directly
to the qualified institution of higher education that he or
she plans to attend. All new applications and renewal forms
shall be submitted by the institution of higher education on
behalf of the student to the Program Board, with the
institution's verification and endorsement.
(Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)
(110 ILCS 930/8.5 new)
Sec. 8.5. Determining and administering awards. In

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determining the recipients of awards, the Program Board shall
favor recipients who received awards in previous years and who
maintain conditions of eligibility as set forth in Section 7
and have made satisfactory academic progress toward a degree,
as determined by each institution of higher education, as long
as no student receives assistance for more than 4 years. In
administering awards, the Program Board shall:
(1) determine the award amount annually;
(2) direct the Board to deliver the awards to the
institution of higher education to disburse to the
recipients, conditioned upon the recipients' satisfactory
academic progress; and
(3) attempt to achieve distribution of the awards
among qualified institutions of higher education so that
the awards are distributed equitably within fields of
study.
A recipient who received an award in a previous year may
not be disqualified from receiving a subsequent award if the
applicant's qualified institution of higher education no
longer meets the Pell Grant criteria described in Section 2,
as long as the applicant and the qualified institution of
higher education maintain all other conditions of eligibility.
Grant funds shall be distributed by an institution of
higher education to grantees during the period of DFI
enrollment, not to exceed 12 months per award.

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(110 ILCS 930/10) (from Ch. 144, par. 2310)
Sec. 10. Conditions of award.
(a) As used in this Section, "good faith effort" includes
actively seeking employment and maintaining contact with the
institutional representative and Program Board.
(b) Conditions for acceptance of a DFI award are that the
recipient shall agree to do the following:
(1) accept a teaching or nonteaching full-time
appointment at an Illinois institution of higher
education; or
(2) accept a position as an employee of this State in
an administrative, educational-related position, as
determined by the Program Board, for the period equal to
the number of years that he or she was a participant in the
DFI; such positions shall include, without limitation,
administrative positions in State elementary, secondary,
or higher education agencies; or .
(3) make a good faith effort to secure such a position
for a time period of no less than 5 years.
(Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)
(110 ILCS 930/11) (from Ch. 144, par. 2311)
Sec. 11. Penalty for failure to fulfill the conditions of
a DFI award. If the obligation of the award is not met,
repayment of the funds awarded shall may be required according
to procedures developed by the Program Board. However, a

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recipient of an award may not be penalized if the failure to
fulfill the conditions of the award is because the recipient
is no longer eligible due to changes made by this amendatory
Act of the 104th General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 93-862, eff. 8-4-04.)
(110 ILCS 930/11.10 new)
Sec. 11.10. Relation to Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act.
All grants under this Act are subject to the Illinois Grant
Funds Recovery Act.
(110 ILCS 930/11.15 new)
Sec. 11.15. Applicability. The changes made to this Act by
this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly shall first
apply beginning with awards made for the 2025-2026 academic
year.
(110 ILCS 930/11.5 rep.)
Section 15. The Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in
Illinois Act is amended by repealing Section 11.5.
Section 20. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by changing Sections 50, 52, 65.110, 65.115, and
65.120 as follows:
(110 ILCS 947/50)

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Sec. 50. Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
program.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Eligible applicant" means a minority student who has
graduated from high school or has received a State of
Illinois High School Diploma and has maintained a
cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0
scale, and who by reason thereof is entitled to apply for
scholarships to be awarded under this Section.
"Minority student" means a student who is any of the
following:
(1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person
having origins in any of the original peoples of North
and South America, including Central America, and who
maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).
(2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or
the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited
to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and
Vietnam).
(3) Black or African American (a person having
origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
(4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban,
Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or
other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).

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(5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
person having origins in any of the original peoples
of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
"Qualified bilingual minority applicant" means a
qualified student who demonstrates proficiency in a
language other than English by (i) receiving a State Seal
of Biliteracy from the State Board of Education or (ii)
receiving a passing score on an educator licensure target
language proficiency test.
"Qualified student" means a student who: person
(i) was enrolled in a public school district in
this State, at any point in kindergarten through grade
12, that had an average of least 70% of students who
were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during
the most recent 3 school years for which data is
available from the State Board of Education;
(ii) was either:
(A) enrolled in a public school district in
this State, at any point in kindergarten through
grade 12, that had a 3-year average teacher
vacancy rate at or above the 3-year statewide
average teacher vacancy rate, excluding public
school districts that had zero vacancies, in any
school year among the most recent 3 school years
for which data is available from the State Board
of Education; or

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(B) enrolled in a public school district in
this State, at any point in kindergarten through
grade 12, in which the number of teacher vacancies
in the district was at or above the statewide
average number of teacher vacancies, excluding
public school districts that had zero vacancies,
in any school year among the most recent 3 school
years for which data is available from the State
Board of Education;
(iii) has graduated from high school or has
received a State of Illinois High School Diploma;
(iv) who is an Illinois a resident of this State
and a citizen or permanent resident of the United
States; (ii) who is a minority student, as defined in
this Section; (iii) who, as an eligible applicant,
(v) has made a timely application for a teacher
minority teaching scholarship under this Section;
(vi) (iv) who is enrolled on at least a half-time
basis at a qualified Illinois institution of higher
learning;
(vii) (v) who is enrolled in a course of study
leading to teacher licensure, including alternative
teacher licensure, to be a preschool, elementary, or
secondary school teacher, or, if the student is
already licensed to teach, in a course of study
leading to an additional teaching endorsement or a

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master's degree in an academic field in which he or she
is teaching or plans to teach or who has received one
or more College and Career Pathway Endorsements
pursuant to Section 80 of the Postsecondary and
Workforce Readiness Act and commits to enrolling in a
course of study leading to teacher licensure,
including alternative teacher licensure, to be a
preschool, elementary, or secondary school teacher;
(viii) (vi) who maintains a grade point average of
no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and
(ix) (vii) who continues to advance satisfactorily
toward the attainment of a degree.
(b) The Commission shall determine, at its discretion, how
to verify whether an applicant is a qualified student. The
Commission shall award teacher scholarships under this Section
to qualified students who demonstrate to the Commission that
they satisfy the requirements and purpose of this Section. All
qualified students may apply. A student who received a
scholarship under this Section in a previous academic year may
not be disqualified from receiving a subsequent award if the
public school district where the student had been enrolled no
longer meets the criteria regarding free or reduced-price
lunch or teacher vacancies described in this Section, as long
as the student maintains all other conditions of eligibility.
In order to encourage academically talented Illinois minority
students to pursue teaching careers at the preschool or

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elementary or secondary school level and to address and
alleviate the teacher shortage crisis in this State described
under the provisions of the Transitions in Education Act, each
qualified student shall be awarded a minority teacher
scholarship to any qualified Illinois institution of higher
learning. However, preference may be given to qualified
applicants enrolled at or above the junior level.
(c) The annual teacher scholarship amount shall be
computed by the institution. Each minority teacher scholarship
awarded under this Section shall be in an amount sufficient to
pay the total cost of attendance tuition and fees and room and
board costs of the qualified Illinois institution of higher
learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual
maximum of $5,000; except that in the case of a recipient who
does not reside on-campus at the institution at which he or she
is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship shall be sufficient
to pay tuition and fee expenses and a commuter allowance, up to
an annual maximum of $5,000. However, if at least $2,850,000
is appropriated in a given fiscal year for the Minority
Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, then, in each fiscal
year thereafter, each scholarship awarded under this Section
shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees
and room and board costs of the qualified Illinois institution
of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an
annual maximum of $7,500; except that in the case of a
recipient who does not reside on-campus at the institution at

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which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship
shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a
commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $7,500.
(d) The total amount of minority teacher scholarship
assistance awarded by the Commission under this Section to an
individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other
financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year,
shall not exceed the total cost of attendance at the
institution at which the student is enrolled. If the amount of
a minority teacher scholarship to be awarded to a scholarship
recipient qualified student as provided in subsection (c) of
this Section exceeds the total cost of attendance at the
institution at which the student is enrolled, the minority
teacher scholarship shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
amount by which the combined financial assistance available to
the recipient student exceeds the total cost of attendance.
(e) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
recipient qualified student can receive minority teacher
scholarship assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
(f) In any academic year for which an eligible applicant
under this Section accepts financial assistance through the
Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, the Special
Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program, or the Teach
Illinois Scholarship Program, Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship
Program, as authorized by Section 551 et seq. of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, the applicant shall not be eligible for

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scholarship assistance awarded under this Section.
(g) All applications for minority teacher scholarships to
be awarded under this Section shall be made to the Commission
on forms which the Commission shall provide for eligible
applicants. Applicants must submit an application annually.
Applicants must also complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid. The form of applications and the information
required to be set forth therein shall be determined by the
Commission, and the Commission shall require eligible
applicants to submit with their applications such supporting
documents or recommendations as the Commission deems
necessary. If an application is incomplete, the Commission
shall notify the applicant. The applicant shall then have an
opportunity to furnish the missing information; however, the
application shall be considered for processing only as of the
date when the application is complete and received by the
Commission. Applicants may be required to furnish the
institution at which they are enrolled with a copy of their
high school transcripts, any other documentation verifying
high school graduation, or a copy of their State of Illinois
High School Diploma.
(h) Subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes,
payment of any minority teacher scholarship awarded under this
Section shall be determined by the Commission. All scholarship
funds distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be
paid to the institution and used only for payment of the

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tuition and fee and room and board expenses incurred by the
student in connection with his or her attendance at a
qualified Illinois institution of higher learning. Any
minority teacher scholarship awarded under this Section shall
be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
within a regular academic year. If a recipient qualified
student withdraws from enrollment prior to completion of the
first semester or quarter for which the minority teacher
scholarship is applicable, the school shall refund to the
Commission the full amount of the minority teacher
scholarship.
(i) The Commission shall administer the minority teacher
scholarship aid program established by this Section and shall
make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
Section for its effective implementation. The Commission shall
make information available on its website regarding school
districts that meet the criteria set forth in the definition
of a qualified student under subsection (a).
(j) When an appropriation to the Commission for a given
fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
qualified students, the Commission shall allocate the
appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds are
insufficient to provide all qualified students with a
scholarship as authorized by this Section, the Commission
shall allocate the available scholarship funds for that fiscal
year to qualified students who submit a timely complete

HB3065 Enrolled - 25 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
application form on or before a date specified by the
Commission based on the following order of priority:
(1) To students who received a scholarship under this
Section in the prior academic year and who remain eligible
for a minority teacher scholarship under this Section.
(2) To Except as otherwise provided in subsection (k),
to students who demonstrate the most financial need, as
determined by the Commission.
(3) To students with the earliest date of received
completed applications.
(4) To students enrolled at or above the junior level.
(k) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subsection (j), at
least 35% of the funds appropriated for scholarships awarded
under this Section in each fiscal year shall be reserved for
qualified male minority applicants, with priority being given
to qualified Black male applicants beginning with fiscal year
2023. If the Commission does not receive enough applications
from qualified male minorities on or before January 1 of each
fiscal year to award 35% of the funds appropriated for these
scholarships to qualified male minority applicants, then the
Commission may award a portion of the reserved funds to
qualified female minority applicants in accordance with
subsection (j).
If Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at least $2,850,000
but less than $4,200,000 is appropriated in a given fiscal
year for scholarships awarded under this Section, then at

HB3065 Enrolled - 26 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
least 10% of the funds appropriated shall be reserved for
qualified bilingual minority applicants, with priority being
given to qualified bilingual minority applicants who are
enrolled in an educator preparation program with a
concentration in bilingual, bicultural education. If Beginning
with fiscal year 2023, if at least $4,200,000 is appropriated
in a given fiscal year for the Minority Teachers of Illinois
scholarship program, then at least 30% of the funds
appropriated shall be reserved for qualified bilingual
minority applicants, with priority being given to qualified
bilingual minority applicants who are enrolled in an educator
preparation program with a concentration in bilingual,
bicultural education. For a fiscal year to which this
subsection applies, if, on or after January 1 of that fiscal
year, appropriated funds remain after awarding reserved funds
to Beginning with fiscal year 2023, if at least $2,850,000 is
appropriated in a given fiscal year for scholarships awarded
under this Section but the Commission does not receive enough
applications from qualified bilingual minority applicants on
or before January 1 of that fiscal year to award at least 10%
of the funds appropriated to qualified bilingual minority
applicants, then the Commission may, in its discretion, award
a portion of the reserved funds to other qualified students in
accordance with subsection (j).
(l) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
academic year, each recipient of a minority teacher

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scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by
the Commission to sign and submit a teaching agreement or
promissory note to the Commission an agreement under which the
recipient pledges that, within the one-year period following
the termination of the program for which the recipient was
awarded a minority teacher scholarship, the recipient (i)
shall begin teaching for a period of not less than one year for
each year of scholarship assistance he or she was awarded
under this Section and shall teach on a continuous basis for
the required period of time; (ii) shall fulfill this teaching
obligation at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or
parochial preschool, elementary school, or secondary school
district in this State that had a 3-year average teacher
vacancy rate at or above the 3-year statewide average teacher
vacancy rate, excluding public school districts that had zero
vacancies, in any school year among the most recent 3 school
years for which data is available from the State Board of
Education or a public school district in this State in which
the number of teacher vacancies in the district was at or above
the statewide average number of teacher vacancies, excluding
public school districts that had zero vacancies, in any school
year among the most recent 3 school years for which data is
available from the State Board of Education at which no less
than 30% of the enrolled students are minority students in the
year during which the recipient begins teaching at the school
or may instead, if the recipient received a scholarship as a

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qualified bilingual minority applicant, fulfill this teaching
obligation in a program in transitional bilingual education
pursuant to Article 14C of the School Code or in a school in
which 20 or more English learner students in the same language
classification are enrolled; and (iii) shall, upon request by
the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he
or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
agreement provided for in this subsection. Recipients of a
teacher scholarship under this Section are also required to
provide the Commission with evidence of compliance with
program requirements, including, but not limited to annual
follow-up questionnaires. Recipients of a teacher scholarship
under this Section must also promise to use the proceeds of the
scholarship for educational expenses.
(l-5) If, prior to the 2025-2026 academic year, an
individual received a scholarship under this Section and
signed an agreement pledging to teach at a school meeting
specified criteria and that individual receives a subsequent
scholarship under this Section on or after the effective date
of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, then
that recipient may complete his or her entire teaching
obligation at a school meeting the criteria described in
subsection (l) of this Section and the Commission shall
consider such employment to satisfy the terms of that
recipient's agreement to teach signed before the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

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(m) If a recipient of a minority teacher scholarship
awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the teaching
obligation set forth in subsection (l) of this Section, the
scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment period shall be
completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a
loan.
The 10-year period may be extended if the recipient (i)
serves, for not more than 3 years, as a member of the United
States Armed Forces; (ii) is temporarily disabled, for not
more than 3 years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a
licensed physician; (iii) is seeking and unable to find
full-time employment, for one continuous period not to exceed
2 years, and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (iv)
withdraws from a course of study leading to licensure as a
teacher but is enrolled full time in another academic
discipline; or (v) is pursuing a graduate course of study and
is enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of
time not to exceed 3 years. During the time a recipient
qualifies for any extensions, the recipient is not required to
make payments and interest does not accrue.
The recipient shall enter repayment status on the earliest
of the following: the first day of the first calendar month
after the recipient has ceased to pursue a course of study
leading to licensure as a teacher at the preschool,
elementary, or secondary level, but not before 6 months have
elapsed after the cessation of at least half-time enrollment

HB3065 Enrolled - 30 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
in such a course of study; the date the recipient informs the
Commission that the recipient does not plan to fulfill the
teaching obligation; or the day after the latest date upon
which the recipient must have begun teaching after completing
the postsecondary education for which the scholarship was
awarded.
The the Commission shall require the recipient to repay
the amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to
the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, at an
annual a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable,
reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who enters into
repayment under this subsection (m) subsequently, within 5
years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a school
meeting the description under subsection (l) of this Section,
the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the recipient in
proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation completed.
The Commission is authorized to establish rules relating to
its collection activities for repayment of scholarships under
this Section. All repayments collected under this Section
shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller for deposit into
the State's General Revenue Fund.
A recipient is not required to repay the amount of the
scholarship received if the recipient becomes permanently
totally disabled, as established by the sworn affidavit of a
qualified physician, or if the recipient's representative
provides the Commission with a death certificate or other

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evidence that the recipient has died.
(n) A recipient of a minority teacher scholarship shall
not be considered in violation of the agreement entered into
pursuant to subsection (l) if the recipient (i) enrolls on a
full time basis as a graduate student in a course of study
related to the field of teaching at a qualified Illinois
institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not in excess
of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the United
States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total disability
for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as established by
sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (iv) is seeking
full-time employment for one continuous period not to exceed 2
years and is unable to find full time employment as a teacher
at a an Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or
elementary or secondary school district in this State that
satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (l) of this
Section and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (v)
becomes a person with a permanent total disability as
established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (vi)
is taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis,
needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in Illinois; or (vii)
is fulfilling teaching requirements associated with other
programs administered by the Commission and cannot
concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a period of
time equal to the length of the teaching obligation.
(o) Scholarship recipients under this Section who withdraw

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from a program of teacher education but remain enrolled in
school to continue their postsecondary studies in another
academic discipline shall not be required to commence
repayment of their Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship
so long as they remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis
or if they can document for the Commission special
circumstances that warrant extension of repayment.
(o-5) The Commission may not require repayment of any
Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship from any recipient
who:
(1) received that scholarship during the 2024-2025
academic year;
(2) would have remained eligible for the Minority
Teachers of Illinois scholarship if it remained in effect
for the 2025-2026 academic year;
(3) does not meet the definition of a qualified
student under the Teachers of Illinois scholarship program
established by this amendatory Act of the 104th General
Assembly; and
(4) does not complete the educator preparation program
in which the recipient was enrolled when receiving the
Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship.
(p) The State Board of Education shall furnish all
appropriate data referenced within the definition of a
qualified student under subsection (a) on a timely basis to
the Commission. If the Minority Teachers of Illinois

HB3065 Enrolled - 33 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
scholarship program does not expend at least 90% of the amount
appropriated for the program in a given fiscal year for 3
consecutive fiscal years and the Commission does not receive
enough applications from the groups identified in subsection
(k) on or before January 1 in each of those fiscal years to
meet the percentage reserved for those groups under subsection
(k), then up to 3% of amount appropriated for the program for
each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated to increasing
awareness of the program and for the recruitment of Black male
applicants. The Commission shall make a recommendation to the
General Assembly by January 1 of the year immediately
following the end of that third fiscal year regarding whether
the amount allocated to increasing awareness and recruitment
should continue.
(q) Each qualified Illinois institution of higher learning
that receives funds from the Minority Teachers of Illinois
scholarship program shall host an annual information session
at the institution about the program for teacher candidates of
color in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission.
Additionally, the institution shall ensure that each
scholarship recipient enrolled at the institution meets with
an academic advisor at least once per academic year to
facilitate on-time completion of the recipient's educator
preparation program. Institutions shall also submit
eligibility information for qualified students in sufficient
time for the Commission to make award announcements.

HB3065 Enrolled - 34 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
Teacher scholarship awards under this Section shall be
paid directly to the approved institution of record that
certifies to the Commission that the applicant is an eligible
recipient. The Commission shall annually establish priority
claim dates for the submission of payment requests and inform
institutions of the required priority dates. Late payment
requests shall result in the delayed processing of payments.
Payment requests shall be processed in the sequence of receipt
by the Commission and as funds are available. Institutions may
submit their payment requests beginning 10 days prior to the
start of classes for the term for which payment is being
requested.
The Commission shall disburse scholarship funds in 2 or 3
installments, depending on the number of terms financed by the
scholarship, except that multiple disbursements are not
required in cases in which the applicant's eligibility is not
determined until the final term of the regular academic year
for which the scholarship is being awarded or if a student is
attending only one term and the maximum award does not exceed
the student's cost of attendance.
Funds shall be remitted by the Commission to institutions
on behalf of recipients. Upon receipt of scholarship funds,
the institution shall verify the recipient's enrollment status
for the term for which the award was intended. If enrolled, the
institution may credit the scholarship funds to the
recipient's account for expenses due and payable. The balance

HB3065 Enrolled - 35 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
of the disbursement shall be released to the recipient. Upon
receipt of the scholarship funds, if the recipient has
withdrawn from enrollment for the terms for which the award
was intended, the institution shall return the amount of the
scholarship payment to the Commission.
(r) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory
Act of the 104th General Assembly shall first apply beginning
with awards made for the 2025-2026 academic year. The changes
made to this Section by Public Act 101-654 will first take
effect with awards made for the 2022-2023 academic year.
(Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised 7-19-24.)
(110 ILCS 947/52)
Sec. 52. Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program; Golden
Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching.
(a) In this Section, "Foundation" means the Golden Apple
Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a registered 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit corporation.
(a-2) In order to encourage academically talented Illinois
students, especially minority students, to pursue teaching
careers, especially in teacher shortage disciplines (which
shall be defined to include early childhood education) or at
hard-to-staff schools (as defined by the Commission in
consultation with the State Board of Education), to provide
those students with the crucial mentoring, guidance, and

HB3065 Enrolled - 36 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
in-service support that will significantly increase the
likelihood that they will complete their full teaching
commitments and elect to continue teaching in targeted
disciplines and hard-to-staff schools, and to ensure that
students in this State will continue to have access to a pool
of highly qualified highly-qualified teachers, each qualified
student shall be awarded a Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois
Program scholarship to any Illinois institution of higher
learning. The Commission shall administer the Golden Apple
Scholars of Illinois Program, which shall be managed by the
Foundation pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement meeting
the requirements of Section 4 of the Illinois Grant Funds
Recovery Act.
(a-3) For purposes of this Section, a qualified student
shall be a student who meets the following qualifications:
(1) is a resident of this State and a citizen or
eligible noncitizen of the United States;
(2) is a high school graduate or a person who has
received a State of Illinois High School Diploma;
(3) is enrolled or accepted, on at least a half-time
basis, at an institution of higher learning;
(4) is pursuing a postsecondary course of study
leading to initial certification or pursuing additional
course work needed to gain State Board of Education
approval to teach, including alternative teacher
licensure; and

HB3065 Enrolled - 37 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
(5) is a participant in programs managed by and is
approved to receive a scholarship from the Foundation.
(a-5) (Blank).
(b) (Blank).
(b-5) Funds designated for the Golden Apple Scholars of
Illinois Program shall be used by the Commission for the
payment of scholarship assistance under this Section or for
the award of grant funds, subject to the Illinois Grant Funds
Recovery Act, to the Foundation. Subject to appropriation,
awards of grant funds to the Foundation shall be made on an
annual basis and following an application for grant funds by
the Foundation.
(b-10) Each year, the Foundation shall include in its
application to the Commission for grant funds an estimate of
the amount of scholarship assistance to be provided to
qualified students during the grant period. Any amount of
appropriated funds exceeding the estimated amount of
scholarship assistance may be awarded by the Commission to the
Foundation for management expenses expected to be incurred by
the Foundation in providing the mentoring, guidance, and
in-service supports that will increase the likelihood that
qualified students will complete their teaching commitments
and elect to continue teaching in hard-to-staff schools. If
the estimate of the amount of scholarship assistance described
in the Foundation's application is less than the actual amount
required for the award of scholarship assistance to qualified

HB3065 Enrolled - 38 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
students, the Foundation shall be responsible for using
awarded grant funds to ensure all qualified students receive
scholarship assistance under this Section.
(b-15) All grant funds not expended or legally obligated
within the time specified in a grant agreement between the
Foundation and the Commission shall be returned to the
Commission within 45 days. Any funds legally obligated by the
end of a grant agreement shall be liquidated within 45 days or
otherwise returned to the Commission within 90 days after the
end of the grant agreement that resulted in the award of grant
funds.
(c) Each scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees and room
and board costs of the Illinois institution of higher learning
at which the recipient is enrolled, up to an annual maximum of
$5,000; except that, in the case of a recipient who does not
reside on campus at the institution of higher learning at
which he or she is enrolled, the amount of the scholarship
shall be sufficient to pay tuition and fee expenses and a
commuter allowance, up to an annual maximum of $5,000. All
scholarship funds distributed in accordance with this Section
shall be paid to the institution on behalf of recipients.
(d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by
the Commission under this Section to an individual in any
given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance
awarded to that individual for that year, shall not exceed the

HB3065 Enrolled - 39 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at
which the student is enrolled. In any academic year for which a
qualified student under this Section accepts financial
assistance through any other teacher scholarship program
administered by the Commission, a qualified student shall not
be eligible for scholarship assistance awarded under this
Section.
(e) A recipient may receive up to 8 semesters or 12
quarters of scholarship assistance under this Section.
Scholarship funds are applicable toward 2 semesters or 3
quarters of enrollment each academic year.
(f) All applications for scholarship assistance to be
awarded under this Section shall be made to the Foundation in a
form determined by the Foundation. Each year, the Foundation
shall notify the Commission of the individuals awarded
scholarship assistance under this Section. Each year, at least
30% of the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program
scholarships shall be awarded to students residing in counties
having a population of less than 500,000.
(g) (Blank).
(h) The Commission shall administer the payment of
scholarship assistance provided through the Golden Apple
Scholars of Illinois Program and shall make all necessary and
proper rules not inconsistent with this Section for the
effective implementation of this Section.
(i) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any

HB3065 Enrolled - 40 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
this Section shall be required by the Foundation to sign an
agreement under which the recipient pledges that, within the
2-year period following the termination of the academic
program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the
recipient: (i) shall begin teaching for a period of not less
than 5 years, (ii) shall fulfill this teaching obligation at a
nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or
an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that
qualifies for teacher loan cancellation under Section
465(a)(2)(A) of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1087ee(a)(2)(A)) or other Illinois schools deemed
eligible for fulfilling the teaching commitment as designated
by the Foundation, and (iii) shall, upon request of the
Foundation, provide the Foundation with evidence that he or
she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the teaching
agreement provided for in this subsection. Upon request, the
Foundation shall provide evidence of teacher fulfillment to
the Commission.
(j) If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this
Section fails to fulfill the teaching obligation set forth in
subsection (i) of this Section, the Commission shall require
the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarships
received, prorated according to the fraction of the teaching
obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if
applicable, reasonable collection fees. If a recipient who

HB3065 Enrolled - 41 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
enters into repayment under this subsection (j) subsequently,
within 5 years of entering repayment, begins to teach at a
school meeting the description under subsection (i) of this
Section, the Commission may reduce the amount owed by the
recipient in proportion to the amount of the teaching
obligation completed. Reduction of the amount owed shall not
be construed as reinstatement in the Golden Apple Scholars
program. Reinstatement in the program shall be solely at the
discretion of the Golden Apple Foundation on terms determined
by the Foundation. Payments received by the Commission under
this subsection (j) shall be remitted to the State Comptroller
for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that
portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in
expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in
attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to
the State Comptroller for deposit into the ISAC Accounts
Receivable Fund, a special fund in the State treasury.
(k) A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Foundation
under this Section shall not be considered to have failed to
fulfill the teaching obligations of the agreement entered into
pursuant to subsection (i) if the recipient (i) enrolls on a
full-time basis as a graduate student in a course of study
related to the field of teaching at an institution of higher
learning; (ii) is serving as a member of the armed services of
the United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total
disability, as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified

HB3065 Enrolled - 42 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
physician; (iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time
employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies the
criteria set forth in subsection (i) and is able to provide
evidence of that fact; (v) is taking additional courses, on at
least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a
teacher in Illinois; (vi) is fulfilling teaching requirements
associated with other programs administered by the Commission
and cannot concurrently fulfill them under this Section in a
period of time equal to the length of the teaching obligation;
or (vii) is participating in a program established under
Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or
the federal National Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12501 et seq.). Any such extension of the period during which
the teaching requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to
limitations of duration as established by the Commission.
(l) A recipient who fails to fulfill the teaching
obligations of the agreement entered into pursuant to
subsection (i) of this Section shall repay the amount of
scholarship assistance awarded to them under this Section
within 10 years.
(m) Annually, at a time determined by the Commission in
consultation with the Foundation, the Foundation shall submit
a report to assist the Commission in monitoring the
Foundation's performance of grant activities. The report shall
describe the following:
(1) the Foundation's anticipated expenditures for the

HB3065 Enrolled - 43 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
next fiscal year;
(2) the number of qualified students receiving
scholarship assistance at each institution of higher
learning where a qualified student was enrolled under this
Section during the previous fiscal year;
(3) the total monetary value of scholarship funds paid
to each institution of higher learning at which a
qualified student was enrolled during the previous fiscal
year;
(4) the number of scholarship recipients who completed
a baccalaureate degree during the previous fiscal year;
(5) the number of scholarship recipients who fulfilled
their teaching obligation during the previous fiscal year;
(6) the number of scholarship recipients who failed to
fulfill their teaching obligation during the previous
fiscal year;
(7) the number of scholarship recipients granted an
extension described in subsection (k) of this Section
during the previous fiscal year;
(8) the number of scholarship recipients required to
repay scholarship assistance in accordance with subsection
(j) of this Section during the previous fiscal year;
(9) the number of scholarship recipients who
successfully repaid scholarship assistance in full during
the previous fiscal year;
(10) the number of scholarship recipients who

HB3065 Enrolled - 44 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
defaulted on their obligation to repay scholarship
assistance during the previous fiscal year;
(11) the amount of scholarship assistance subject to
collection in accordance with subsection (j) of this
Section at the end of the previous fiscal year;
(12) the amount of collected funds to be remitted to
the Comptroller in accordance with subsection (j) of this
Section at the end of the previous fiscal year; and
(13) other information that the Commission may
reasonably request.
(n) Nothing in this Section shall affect the rights of the
Commission to collect moneys owed to it by recipients of
scholarship assistance through the Illinois Future Teacher
Corps Program, repealed by Public Act 98-533.
(o) The Auditor General shall prepare an annual audit of
the operations and finances of the Golden Apple Scholars of
Illinois Program. This audit shall be provided to the
Governor, General Assembly, and the Commission.
(p) The suspension of grant making authority found in
Section 4.2 of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act shall not
apply to grants made pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23;
103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-448, eff. 8-4-23; revised
10-16-24.)
(110 ILCS 947/65.110)

HB3065 Enrolled - 45 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
Sec. 65.110. Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work
Professional Educator License scholarship.
(a) Subject to appropriation, beginning with awards for
the 2022-2023 academic year, the Commission shall award
annually up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work School Social
Work Professional Educator License scholarships to a person
who:
(1) holds a valid Illinois-licensed clinical social
work license or social work license;
(2) has obtained a master's degree in social work from
an approved program;
(3) is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen;
and
(4) submits an application to the Commission for such
scholarship and agrees to take courses to obtain an
Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement
in School Social Work.
(b) If an appropriation for this Section for a given
fiscal year is insufficient to provide scholarships to all
qualified applicants, the Commission shall allocate the
appropriation as follows in accordance with this subsection
(b). If funds are insufficient to provide all qualified
applicants with a scholarship as authorized by this Section,
the Commission shall allocate the available scholarship funds
for that fiscal year to qualified applicants who submit a
complete application on or before a date specified by the

HB3065 Enrolled - 46 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
Commission, based on the following order of priority:
(1) first firstly, to students who received a
scholarship under this Section in the prior academic year
and who remain eligible for a scholarship under this
Section;
(2) (blank) secondly, to new, qualified applicants who
are members of a racial minority, as defined in subsection
(c); and
(3) then finally, to other new, qualified applicants
in accordance with this Section.
(c) Scholarships awarded under this Section shall be
issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission. In
awarding scholarships, the Commission shall give priority to
those applicants who are members of a racial minority. Racial
minorities are underrepresented as school social workers in
elementary and secondary schools in this State, and the
General Assembly finds that it is in the interest of this State
to provide them with priority consideration for programs that
encourage their participation in this field and thereby foster
a profession that is more reflective of the diversity of
Illinois students and the parents they will serve. A more
reflective workforce in school social work allows improved
outcomes for students and a better utilization of services.
Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to those
applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this
subsection (c), "racial minority" means a person who is a

HB3065 Enrolled - 47 - LRB104 08398 LNS 18449 b
citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident of
the United States and who is:
(1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black
racial groups in Africa);
(2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America,
or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);
(3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of
the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or
(4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having
origins in any of the original peoples of North America).
(d) Each scholarship shall be applied to the payment of
tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Illinois,
Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University,
Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University,
Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University,
Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University.
Each scholarship may be applied to pay tuition and mandatory
fees required to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator
License with an endorsement in School Social Work.
(e) The Commission shall make tuition and fee payments
directly to the qualified institution of higher learning that
the applicant attends.
(f) Any person who has accepted a scholarship under this
Section must, within one year after graduation or termination

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of enrollment in a Post-Master of Social Work Professional
Education License with an endorsement in School Social Work
program, begin working as a school social worker at a public or
nonpublic not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or
secondary school located in this State for at least 2 of the 5
years immediately following that graduation or termination,
excluding, however, from the computation of that 5-year
period: (i) any time up to 3 years spent in the military
service, whether such service occurs before or after the
person graduates; (ii) the time that person is a person with a
temporary total disability for a period of time not to exceed 3
years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified
physician; and (iii) the time that person is seeking and
unable to find full-time employment as a school social worker
at a State public or nonpublic not-for-profit preschool,
elementary school, or secondary school.
(g) If a recipient of a scholarship under this Section
fails to fulfill the work obligation set forth in subsection
(f), the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the
amount of the scholarships received, prorated according to the
fraction of the obligation not completed, at a rate of
interest equal to 5%, and, if applicable, reasonable
collection fees. The Commission is authorized to establish
rules relating to its collection activities for repayment of
scholarships under this Section. All repayments collected
under this Section shall be forwarded to the State Comptroller

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for deposit into this State's General Revenue Fund.
A recipient of a scholarship under this Section is not
considered to be in violation of the failure to fulfill the
work obligation under subsection (f) if the recipient (i)
enrolls on a full-time basis as a graduate student in a course
of study related to the field of social work at a qualified
Illinois institution of higher learning; (ii) is serving, not
in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of the
United States; (iii) is a person with a temporary total
disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years, as
established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician;
(iv) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a
school social worker at an Illinois public or nonpublic
not-for-profit preschool, elementary school, or secondary
school that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (f)
and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or (v) becomes a
person with a permanent total disability, as established by
the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician.
(Source: P.A. 102-621, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
102-1030, eff. 5-27-22.)
(110 ILCS 947/65.115)
Sec. 65.115. School and Municipal Social Work Shortage
Loan Repayment Program.
(a) To encourage Illinois students to work, and to
continue to work, as a school social worker in public school

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districts in this State or in State municipalities, the
Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications
for loan repayment assistance under this Section. This program
shall be known as the School and Municipal Social Work
Shortage Loan Repayment Program. The Commission shall
administer the program and shall adopt all necessary and
proper rules to effectively implement the program.
(b) Beginning July 1, 2022, subject to a separate
appropriation made for such purposes, the Commission shall
award a grant, up to a maximum of $6,500, to each qualified
applicant. The Commission may encourage the recipient of a
grant under this Section to use the grant award for repayment
of the recipient's educational loan. If an appropriation for
this program for a given fiscal year is insufficient to
provide grants to all qualified applicants, the Commission
shall allocate the appropriation in accordance with this
subsection. If funds are insufficient to provide all qualified
applicants with a grant as authorized by this Section, the
Commission shall allocate the available grant funds for the
that fiscal year to qualified applicants who submit a complete
application on or before a date specified by the Commission,
based on the following order of priority:
(1) first, to students who received a grant under this
Section in the prior fiscal year and who remain eligible
for a grant under this Section new, qualified applicants
who are members of a racial minority as defined in

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subsection (e); and
(2) then second, to other new, qualified applicants in
accordance with this Section.
(c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section
if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:
(1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible
noncitizen.
(2) The person is a resident of this State.
(3) The person is a borrower with an outstanding
balance due on an educational loan related to obtaining a
degree in social work.
(4) The person has been employed as a school social
worker by a public elementary school or secondary school
in this State for at least 12 consecutive months or as a
social worker for an Illinois municipality who did not
report directly to a police department.
(5) The person is currently employed as a school
social worker by a public elementary school or secondary
school in this State or as a social worker for an Illinois
municipality who does not report directly to a police
department.
(d) An applicant shall submit an application, in a form
determined by the Commission, for grant assistance under this
Section to the Commission. An applicant is required to submit,
with the application, supporting documentation as the
Commission may deem necessary.

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(e) (Blank). Racial minorities are underrepresented as
school social workers in elementary and secondary schools and
in municipalities in Illinois, and the General Assembly finds
that it is in the interest of this State to provide them
priority consideration for programs that encourage their
participation in this field and thereby foster a profession
that is more reflective of the diversity of Illinois
residents, students and parents they will serve. A more
reflective workforce in social work allows improved outcomes
for individuals and a better utilization of services.
Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to those
applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this
subsection (e), "racial minority" means a person who is a
citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident
alien of the United States and who is:
(1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black
racial groups in Africa);
(2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese
culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America,
or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);
(3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of
the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or
(4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having
origins in any of the original peoples of North America).
(Source: P.A. 102-622, eff. 7-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;

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102-1022, eff. 1-1-23.)
(110 ILCS 947/65.120)
Sec. 65.120. iGROW Tech Scholarship Program.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Eligible applicant" means a student who has graduated
from high school or has received a State of Illinois High
School Diploma, who has maintained a cumulative grade point
average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, who is pursuing or
intends to pursue a qualifying degree in a qualified
institution, and who is entitled to apply for assistance under
this Section.
"Full-time" means the number of credit hours the
Commission determines is full-time enrollment for a student
for purposes of the program created under this Section.
"Minority student" has the same meaning as the term is
defined under Section 50 of the Higher Education Student
Assistance Act (110 ILCS 947).
"Program" means the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program created
under this Section.
"Qualifying degree" means an associate or a bachelor's
degree granted by a qualified institution in the field of
computer information sciences; information technology;
information science; computer science; computer systems
networking and telecommunications; computer and information
systems security or information assurance, including

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cybersecurity; or management information systems.
"Qualifying job" means a job with an employer in this
State performing work that is directly related to the field of
study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this
Section.
"Qualified student" means a person (i) who is a resident
of this State; (ii) who, as an eligible applicant, has made a
timely application for an iGROW tech scholarship under this
Section; (iii) who is enrolled on at least a half-time basis at
a qualified institution; (iv) who is enrolled in a course of
study in the field of computer and information sciences;
information technology; information science; computer science;
computer systems networking and telecommunications; computer
and information systems security or information assurance,
including cybersecurity; or management information systems;
(v) who maintains a grade point average of no less than a 2.5
on a 4.0 scale; and (vi) who continues to advance
satisfactorily toward the attainment of a degree.
"Recipient" means an Illinois resident enrolled in a
qualified institution who receives an award under this
Section.
(b) Subject to appropriation, and no sooner than the
2024-2025 academic year, there is established the Illinois
Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship
Program to recruit and train individuals to work in technology
jobs that have a high demand for new employees and offer high

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wages by awarding scholarships.
(c) Each iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
shall be determined by the Commission in an amount up to and
including the full costs of tuition and fees and room and board
of the qualified institution at which the recipient is
enrolled if the institution is public, or an equivalent rate
established by the Commission for private institutions. The
total amount of iGROW tech scholarship assistance awarded by
the Commission under this Section to an eligible applicant in
any given fiscal year, when added to other financial
assistance awarded to that individual for that year, shall not
exceed the cost of attendance at the institution at which the
student is enrolled. If the amount of financial assistance to
be awarded to a qualified student exceeds the cost of
attendance at the institution at which the student is
enrolled, the iGROW tech scholarship shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the amount by which the combined financial
assistance available to the student exceeds the cost of
attendance.
(d) The maximum number of academic terms for which a
qualified student can receive iGROW tech scholarship
assistance shall be 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
(e) All applications for scholarships awarded under this
Section shall be made to the Commission on forms which the
Commission shall provide for eligible applicants. The form of
applications and the information required to be set forth

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therein shall be determined by the Commission, and the
Commission shall require eligible applicants to submit with
their applications such supporting documents or
recommendations as the Commission deems necessary.
(f) Subject to appropriation for such purposes, payment of
any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section shall be
determined by the Commission. All scholarship funds
distributed in accordance with this subsection shall be paid
to the qualified institution and used only for payment of the
tuition and fees assessed by the institution and the standard
housing and food allowance used for all undergraduate students
by the qualified student in connection with his or her
attendance at a qualified institution.
Any iGROW tech scholarship awarded under this Section
shall be applicable to 2 semesters or 3 quarters of enrollment
annually. The qualified institution can only request payment
for tuition and fees up to the amount of actual tuition and fee
expenses incurred.
If a student withdraws after the expiration of the tuition
refund or withdrawal adjustment period, the student may
receive payment for tuition and fees incurred up to the term
award. The housing and food allowance shall be prorated based
on the qualified institution's return of funds policy.
(g) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
academic year, each recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship
awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission

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to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges that
the recipient (i) shall work in the State in a qualified job
for a period of not less than one year for each year of
scholarship assistance he or she was awarded under this
Section; however, in no event shall he or she agree to work in
the State in a qualified job for a period of less than 2 years;
and (ii) shall, upon request by the Commission, provide the
Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has
fulfilled the terms of the agreement provided for in this
subsection.
If a recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship awarded under
this Section fails to fulfill the obligations set forth in
this subsection, the Commission shall require the recipient to
repay the amount of the scholarships received, prorated
according to the fraction of the employment obligation not
completed, at a rate of interest equal to 5%, and, if
applicable, reasonable collection fees. The Commission is
authorized to establish rules relating to its collection
activities for repayment of scholarships under this Section.
All repayments collected under this Section shall be forwarded
to the State Comptroller for deposit into the State's General
Revenue Fund.
A recipient of an iGROW tech scholarship shall not be
considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant
to this subsection if the recipient (I) enrolls on a full-time
basis as a graduate student in a course of study related to the

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technology degree for which he or she qualified for the iGROW
tech scholarship at a qualified institution; (II) is serving,
not in excess of 3 years, as a member of the armed services of
the United States; (III) is a person with a temporary total
disability for a period of time not to exceed 3 years as
established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; (IV)
is seeking and unable to find full-time employment with a
State employer that satisfies the criteria set forth in this
subsection and is able to provide evidence of that fact; (V)
becomes a person with a permanent total disability as
established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or
(VI) meets any other criteria that the Commission may deem
necessary.
(h) Scholarship recipients under this Section who withdraw
from a program of computer science or other related major area
of study provided under this Section but remain enrolled in
school to continue their postsecondary studies in another
academic discipline shall not be required to commence
repayment of their iGROW tech scholarship so long as they
remain enrolled in school on a full-time basis or if they can
document for the Commission special circumstances that warrant
extension of repayment.
(i) If the Program does not expend at least 90% of the
amount appropriated for the Program in a given fiscal year for
3 consecutive fiscal years on or before January 1 in each of
those fiscal years, then up to 3% of amount appropriated for

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the Program for each of next 3 fiscal years shall be allocated
to increasing awareness of the program.
(j) The Commission shall administer the Program and shall
make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this
Section for its effective implementation.
(k) The Commission shall establish a methodology for
prioritizing applications from applicants who demonstrate a
financial need or hardship, applications from minority
students, and applications from applicants demonstrating
academic excellence. After the first academic year that the
Program operates, the Commission shall prioritize the
applications of those applicants who received a scholarship
under this Section during the prior academic year and who
remain eligible for a scholarship under this Section.
(l) Each fiscal year, the Commission may use up to 5% of
money appropriated for the Program for administration.
(m) Scholarships may be made under this Section through
the 2029-30 academic year.
(n) The Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW)
Tech Scholarship Fund is created as a special fund in the State
treasury. Moneys in the fund may come from both public
entities and institutional, organizational, or other private
entities. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to
appropriation, by the Commission to implement and administer
the Program pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-519, eff. 1-1-24.)

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(110 ILCS 947/65.30 rep.)
Section 25. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by repealing Section 65.30.
Section 30. The Community Behavioral Health Care
Professional Loan Repayment Program Act is amended by changing
Section 25 as follows:
(110 ILCS 996/25)
Sec. 25. Award; maximum loan time; maximum amount. Subject
to appropriation, the Commission shall award a grant to each
qualified applicant for a maximum of 4 years. The Commission
must encourage the recipient of a grant awarded under this Act
to use the grant award for payments towards the recipient's
educational loans. The amount of the grant shall not exceed
(i) $40,000 per year for a psychiatrist, (ii) $20,000 per year
for an advanced practice registered nurse or a physician
assistant, (iii) $20,000 per year for a psychologist who holds
a doctoral degree, (iv) $15,000 per year for a licensed
clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional
counselor, or a licensed marriage and family therapist, (v)
$4,000 per year for a substance use professional, a certified
alcohol and drug counselor, or a certified recovery support
specialist, (vi) $12,000 per year for a professional
possessing a master's degree in counseling, psychology, social

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work, or marriage and family therapy, and (vii) $6,000 per
year for a professional possessing a bachelor's degree in
counseling, psychology, or social work.
No less than 30% of the funding for grants under this
Section each fiscal year shall be reserved for awards to
minority applicants of African American or Black, Hispanic or
Latinx, Asian, or Native American origin. If the Commission
does not receive enough applications from qualified minorities
on or before January 1 of a given fiscal year to award 30% of
the funding to qualified minority applicants, then the
Commission may award a portion of these reserved funds to
other qualified applicants.
(Source: P.A. 103-56, eff. 7-1-24.)
Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.