Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 52, December 27, 2024
a)
Qualified applicants shall have completed and filed an application for program
participation with the Foundation prior to becoming eligible for scholarship
assistance under this Section. Applications shall be made available to
qualified applicants by and submitted to the Foundation before a qualified
applicant may be designated as a Golden Apple Scholar by the
Foundation.
b) The Foundation shall
designate Golden Apple Scholars as defined in their established selection
protocol.
c) Each year, the
Foundation shall identify Golden Apple Scholars eligible to receive scholarship
assistance from ISAC under this Part by submitting to ISAC any necessary data
related to the qualified applicant and, at such time, by certifying that:
1) Students selected to receive scholarship
assistance under this Part meet the eligibility requirements described in
Section 2764.20(a) or
in the Higher Education Student Assistance Act [110 ILCS
947/52] ;
2) Students selected to receive scholarship
assistance under this Part have entered into a Program Agreement and Promissory
Note with the Foundation that satisfies the requirements listed in this Part;
and
3) Thirty percent of students
selected to receive scholarship assistance under this Part in a given fiscal
year will be awarded to students residing in counties having a population of
fewer than 500,000.
d)
In order to receive scholarship assistance under this Part, a Golden Apple
Scholar must have signed a program agreement and promissory note with the
Foundation on behalf of ISAC that includes the following stipulations:
1) the recipient pledges to teach, on a full
time basis, for a period of not less than five years and in accordance with any
additional commitment to teach in a teacher shortage discipline, which shall
include early childhood education;
2) the recipient shall begin teaching within
two years following completion of the postsecondary education degree or
certificate program for which the scholarship was awarded, and shall teach on a
continuous basis for the required period of time;
3) the teaching requirement will be fulfilled
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 HEA (20 U.S.C.
1087ee(a)(2)(A));
4) if the teaching requirement is not
fulfilled, the scholarship assistance provided under this Part converts to a
loan and the recipient must repay the entire amount of the scholarship prorated
according to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus
interest at a rate equal to five percent and, if applicable, reasonable
collection fees;
5) the recipient
agrees to provide the Foundation or ISAC with evidence of compliance with
program requirements (e.g., responses to annual follow-up questionnaires,
etc.); and
6) the recipient
promises to use the proceeds of the scholarship for educational
expenses.
e) All amounts
collected on a scholarship that converts to a loan under this Part, less any
portion of those funds that equals the amount in expenses that ISAC has
incurred in collecting the debt, shall be remitted to the Comptroller for
deposit in the General Revenue Fund.
f) A recipient of a scholarship awarded under
this Part shall not be in violation of the program agreement and promissory
note for failing to begin teaching within two years after graduation if, during
that period, the recipient:
1) serves, for
not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces;
or
2) is enrolled full-time in a
graduate course of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of
higher learning; or
3) is
temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years, as established by
the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician; or
4) is actively seeking and unable to find
full-time employment as a teacher at a school that satisfies the criteria set
forth in subsection (d)(3) for one continuous period not to exceed two years,
and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or
5) is taking additional courses, on at least
a half-time basis, needed to obtain licensure as a teacher in Illinois;
or
6) is fulfilling teaching
requirements associated with other programs administered by ISAC if the
requirements cannot be concurrently fulfilled in a period of time equal to the
length of the teaching commitment; or
7) is participating in a program established
by Executive Order 10924 of the President of the United States or the National
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq., as
amended).
g) If a
recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment
period shall be completed within 10 years. The Commission shall grant a period
of forbearance or deferment during repayment of the loan that shall not be
counted toward the 10-year repayment period, if the recipient:
1) serves, for not more than three years, as
a member of the United States Armed Forces; or
2) is temporarily disabled, for not more than
three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician;
or
3) is pursuing a graduate course
of study and is enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time
not to exceed three years; or
4) is
seeking and unable to find full-time employment for one continuous period not
to exceed two years and is able to provide evidence of that fact; or
5) withdraws from a course of study leading
to licensure/approval in a teacher shortage discipline, but is enrolled at
least half-time as an undergraduate for one continuous period of time not to
exceed three years.
h)
During the time a recipient qualifies for periods of deferment or forbearance
described in subsection (g), payments shall not be required and interest shall
not accrue.
i) A recipient shall
enter repayment status on the earliest of the following dates:
1) 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, but not until six months have elapsed after the cessation of at
least half-time enrollment in such a course of study;
2) the date the Foundation informs ISAC or
ISAC otherwise learns that a recipient of scholarship assistance has not
fulfilled the teaching obligation; or
3) 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.
j)
If a recipient who enters into
repayment under subsection (d) subsequently, within 5 years of
entering repayment, begins to teach at a school meeting the description under
subsection (d)(3), the amount owed by the recipient may be
reduced in proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation
completed. [110 ILCS 947/50]
k) A recipient shall not be required to repay
the amount of the scholarship received if the recipient becomes permanently and
totally disabled, so as to be unable to perform the essential function of a
teacher with or without accommodation as determined by a licensed physician, or
if a recipient's representative provides ISAC with a death certificate or other
evidence that the recipient has died.