By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois officials are promoting an education grant program designed to provide financial aid to undocumented students and transgender students.
Undocumented and transgender students who may not be able to qualify for federal education assistance have other options to get state funding. Illinois Student Assistance Commission spokeswoman Lynne Baker said those students can still get assistance through the RISE Act, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law in June.
To be eligible, students must meet requirements under the RISE Act, including residency and other requirements specific to the state aid programs.
To qualify for available state financial assistance, students need to complete an alternative application for Monetary Award Program, or MAP, grants.
The RISE Act was designed to help undocumented residents of Illinois secure funding for college.
“This provides them that opportunity to make college possible,” Baker said.
Baker said the RISE Act funding also provides opportunities for financial assistance to transgender students.
“It also does that for certain transgender students who would not be eligible for federal financial aid.”
Transgender students may not be eligible for some federal aid because they did not register for Selective Service.
Pritzker said he remains committed to expanding college affordability for “every student in Illinois because it’s a common-sense investment in our future.”
“After years of college students choosing to leave Illinois, we’re turning the page to a new era to make our schools more affordable for all students by increasing funding for MAP grants, AIM HIGH scholarships, and increasing funding for our schools,” Pritzker said in a statement.
The governor’s office has also announced an increase in the amount of funding available for MAP grants. MAP funding has received $50 million more plus the award size has increased for existing students. The governor has provided an additional $10 million in funding for the AIM HIGH merit-based scholarships.
According to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission website, MAP grants, or Monetary Award Program grants, are available to eligible Illinois residents to attend selected colleges. The grants are based on financial need and do not need to be paid back.
Information about the RISE Act, application forms and available financial aid can be found at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission website.
Illinois Radio Network can be reached at [email protected].
