101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5325

 

Introduced , by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Allows the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to receive and consider applications for grant assistance for disproportionately underrepresented teachers. Provides that a student qualifies for a disproportionately underrepresented teacher grant if he or she: (i) is a graduate of a public or nonpublic high school; (ii) is a member of a population that is disproportionately underrepresented in the teacher-to-student ratio in the State; (iii) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a public or private university in undergraduate studies in teacher education or in an approved educator preparation program; and (iv) intends to obtain an educator license. Sets forth additional provisions of the grant. Effective July 1, 2020.


LRB101 19171 CMG 68634 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5325LRB101 19171 CMG 68634 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)
7    Sec. 65.110. Disproportionately underrepresented teacher
8grants.
9    (a) The Commission shall, each year, receive and consider
10applications for grant assistance for disproportionately
11underrepresented teachers under this Section. An applicant is
12eligible to receive a grant under this Section if the
13Commission determines that the applicant:
14        (1) is a graduate of a public or nonpublic high school
15    located in this State;
16        (2) is a member of a population that is
17    disproportionately underrepresented in the
18    teacher-to-student ratio in this State;
19        (3) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a public
20    university or nonpublic college or university located in
21    this State in undergraduate studies in teacher education or
22    in an educator preparation program approved by the State
23    Board of Education;

 

 

HB5325- 2 -LRB101 19171 CMG 68634 b

1        (4) intends to obtain an educator license under Article
2    21B of the School Code.
3    (b) An applicant who is determined by the Commission to be
4eligible for a grant under this Section shall receive, subject
5to appropriation, a renewable grant of $5,000 to be applied to
6tuition and mandatory fees and paid directly to the college or
7university at which the applicant is enrolled. A grant awarded
8under this Section may be renewed for a total of up to 4 years
9of enrollment if the recipient maintains eligibility for the
10grant and satisfactory academic progress at the college or
11university at which the recipient is enrolled.
12    (c) A grant under this Section, subject to appropriation,
13may be awarded to no more than 200 first-time recipients per
14year, and no more than 800 grants may be funded at any one
15time.
16    (d) If a recipient of a grant under this Section fails to
17obtain an educator license under Article 21B of the School
18Code, the recipient shall repay the amount of all grants
19received. The Commission shall set forth conditions when
20repayment under this subsection of the amount received by a
21recipient may be waived or partially waived.
22    (e) The Commission shall adopt rules necessary and proper
23to effectively implement this Section.
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
252020.