Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver SETTW November

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) November 2008

SETTW Program n n For students pursuing a degree in special education Exempts recipients from tuition and mandatory fees for up to four calendar years at any of the 12 public universities in Illinois Requires a teaching commitment 250 waivers awarded each year

SETTW Eligibility n Student must be: n n n a U. S. citizen or eligible non-citizen an Illinois resident Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate student in an area of special education n n at one of the participating institutions must be enrolled in a special education program within 10 days after the beginning of the term for which the waiver was initially awarded

SETTW Eligibility n Student must meet one of the following: n n n Graduated from an approved high school in the academic year in which the award is made and be performing in the upper half of the graduating class Graduated from an approved high school prior to the academic year in which the award is made and do not hold a valid teaching certificate Hold a valid teaching certificate that is not in the discipline of special education

SETTW Eligibility n Student must n n n Meet school’s satisfactory academic progress criteria Remain in attendance on a continuous basis for up to four years Student cannot n n Be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on any state or federal grant or scholarship Be a prior recipient of this waiver or be awarded a Minority Teachers of Illinois or an Illinois Future Teachers Corp Scholarship for the same academic year

Applying for SETTW n Applicants must complete the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Application n n Download/print from College Zone Signed original must be mailed to ISAC by priority consideration date n n Must be postmarked on or before March 1 (prior to start of the academic year) Faxed copies not accepted

SETTW Application n Consists of three sections n n Section A – all applicants must complete Section B – required for certified teachers only n n Section C – high school applicants must complete n n Must also attach a copy of teaching certificate Must be signed by a high school official Application also serves as a promissory note

Student Notification n n A Notice of Eligibility is sent to each qualified applicant by July 1 Other notifications sent include: n n n Notice of Application Receipt Notice of Incomplete Application Rights & Responsibilities n n n Accompanies Notice of Eligibility Notice of Unavailable Funds Notice of Ineligibility

Determining Awards n n 40 waivers are awarded to applicants who hold valid teaching certificates and are not in the discipline of special education If more than 40 applicants qualify, a lottery is used to select the 40 recipients

Determining Awards n n 105 waivers are awarded to applicants who have graduated from an approved high school prior to the academic year in which the award is made If more than 105 applicants qualify, a lottery is used to select the 105 recipients

Determining Awards n 105 tuition waivers are awarded to qualified applicants scheduled to graduate from an approved high school in the academic year in which the award is made n n Must perform in the upper half of their class Highest ACT or SAT test scores also a factor Any of the other 145 waivers not awarded are added to this group If the number of applicants is greater than the number of available waivers, a lottery is used

Administering SETTW n n n Paper-based process Several forms that schools must complete and submit For qualified applicants who are eligible for both SETTW and a Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant, the SETTW award must be used first

SETTW Forms n n n Verification Roster Certification Form Tuition Waiver Conversion Form Leave of Absence Form Enrollment Status Verification for Compliance Roster Enrollment Status Verification Form

Verification Roster n n Used to verify enrollment status and program eligibility for each student applicant The institution completes and returns to ISAC by due date indicated on accompanying cover letter

n Type n n HS: High School T: Teacher n Disqualify Codes n n n 1 2 3 4 5 – – – did not enroll within 10 days not seeking Special Ed certification transferred to another eligible school accepted IFTC or MTI declined the waiver

Verification Roster Certification n Certifies that eligibility and enrollment status have been verified for each student listed on the school’s roster Must be signed by financial aid director or person authorized to sign on their behalf Due date will be shown at the bottom of the form

Tuition Waiver Conversion Form (TWCF) n n Must be completed for each SETTW recipient Used to track the recipient’s usage of the waiver Sent to the school in the academic year when the student first accepts the waiver Maintained by the school until the recipient is no longer eligible or at the school n n n Indicate the amount of tuition and mandatory fees waived each year Indicate why the recipient is no longer eligible for the waiver (e. g. changed majors, graduated, etc. ) Record approved leave of absence(s)

Tuition Waiver Conversion Form (TWCF) n n For transfer students, send original to new school, a copy to ISAC and keep a copy Complete and accurate information is needed to assess and monitor teaching requirements and repayment obligations n Important to ensure that name and address is the student’s most current before returning to ISAC n Correct pre-populated information as needed

Leave of Absence n n n Student must complete form and submit to institution Approval is granted by the institution May be granted for a maximum of two years n n Unless for military service Can only receive after student has been enrolled for the first term of the year awarded

Leave of Absence n May be granted for the following reasons: n n Earning funds to defray educational expenses Illness of the recipient or an immediate family member Military service Form and supporting documentation should be retained in student’s file n Does not need to be submitted to ISAC, but dates must be listed on the TWCF

Enrollment Status Verification for Compliance n Sent to schools at the end of each academic year n n n Accompanying cover letter provides due date Verifies that students previously awarded SETTW were enrolled during that academic year Enrollment status codes and status dates should be provided for each student n If the code is anything other than “I”, the Tuition Waiver Conversion Form must be submitted to ISAC for that student

n Enrollment Status Codes n n I – in school G – graduated D – dropped program, not enrolled E – dropped program, enrolled n n WE – waiver expired LE – leave expired C – cancelled, never used O – other, please explain

Enrollment Status Verification n Must be signed by financial aid director and returned with the Enrollment Status Verification for Compliance Roster Provides guidance on completing the roster Includes a list of applicable status codes

Teaching Requirements n Must begin teaching n n n On a full-time basis In the field of Special Education Within one year following graduation from or termination of enrollment in a teacher education program At an Illinois nonprofit public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school Must continue teaching for at least two of the five years immediately following

Teaching Requirements n Period to fulfill may be extended if recipient n n n serves, for not more than three years, as a member of the U. S. Armed Forces is enrolled full-time in a graduate course of study related to teaching is temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years is actively seeking but unable to find employment as a teacher is taking additional courses on at least a half-time basis to obtain teacher certification in Illinois

Repayment n If a recipient fails to meet requirements, the assistance converts to a loan n n Interest of 5% starts to accrue on the date the repayment obligation begins The repayment period must be completed with five years after it converts to a loan n Recipient may request an extension or deferment for special circumstances n Military service, disability, unemployment, pursuing additional education, fulfilling other teaching requirements

Program Requirements Extension and Deferment Request Form n n Available on College Zone Section 1 to be completed by SETTW recipient Section 2 to completed by school, organization or physician certifying reason for request Additional pages of the form provide extension and deferment explanations for ISAC scholarship programs

Program News n 2008 -09 n Second round of awarding took place on October 31 n n Verification rosters for second round of recipients were sent to schools on November 6 n n Notifications were mailed to eligible students Due back to ISAC on or before December 12 2009 -10 n Application will be available on College Zone in mid-December

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