Program Requirements

Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program

If you are a recipient of both the DeBolt Teacher Shortage Scholarship (DTSS) and the IFTC program, you must fulfill the requirements of the IFTC program.

If you are a recipient of the IFTC program, you must teach for five years on a full-time basis at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school. You must begin teaching within the one year following your termination from the program of study funded by the scholarship, and continue until the obligation is fulfilled. Your teaching must fulfill the commitment/agreement that you signed prior to receiving the program benefits, e.g., if you made a commitment to teach in a teacher shortage discipline and/or at a hard to staff school, you are fulfilling your five years of teaching accordingly.

A listing of designated teacher shortage areas that have been approved by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) each year (dating back to the 2002-03 academic year) is provided at the Designated Teacher Shortage Areas page of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Web site. Note that, in addition to the ED-approved teacher shortage areas, Early Childhood Education is also included for the IFTC Program.

Illinois schools included on ED's list for teacher loan forgiveness will be used as the list for hard-to-staff schools. The teaching requirement can only be fulfilled at the Illinois public elementary and secondary schools on the list at the time the teaching obligation begins, or at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool. ED's listing reflects Illinois school data through the 2008-09 academic year.

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time as a graduate in a course of study related to your field of teaching at an institution of higher learning
• Temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school, for one continuous period of time - which shall not exceed two years in duration

To qualify for any of these extensions, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

If the teaching obligation is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount of the scholarship(s) prorated to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest. If applicable, you will pay reasonable collection costs. The interest rate is 5 percent.

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after you stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to certification as a teacher in a designated teacher shortage discipline
• The date ISAC is informed that you do not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which you must have begun teaching

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period must be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Pursuing a graduate course of study and enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years
• Actively seeking and unable to find full-time employment for one continuous period, not to exceed two years
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to certification/approval in a teacher shortage discipline, but remain enrolled at least half-time in another academic discipline for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years

To qualify for any of these deferments, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

DeBolt Teachers Shortage Scholarship Program (DTSS)

If you are a recipient of both the DeBolt Teacher Shortage Scholarship (DTSS) and the IFTC program, you must fulfill the requirements of the IFTC program.

If you are a DTSS scholarship recipient, you must teach one year on a full-time basis in a designated teacher shortage discipline for each academic year, or a portion of the academic year, for which you received the DTSS award. This teaching obligation must be fulfilled at an Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school. You must fulfill the teaching obligation within five years following your termination from the program of study funded by the scholarship.

A listing of designated teacher shortage areas that have been approved by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) each year (dating back to the 2002-03 academic year) is provided at the Designated Teacher Shortage Areas page of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Web site.

Extensions

The five-year period to fulfill the teaching requirement may be extended if you are:   

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time as a graduate in a course of study related to your field of teaching at an institution of higher learning
• Temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary, or secondary school, for one continuous period of time—which shall not exceed two years in duration
• Taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to gain ISBE approval to teach in a specialized teacher shortage discipline

To qualify for any of these extensions, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

Repayment

If the teaching obligation is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount of the scholarship(s) prorated to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest. If applicable, you will pay reasonable collection costs. The interest rate for repayment is determined in accordance with federal regulations for the highest rate applicable to new student loans under the FFEL Program.

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after you stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to certification as a teacher in a designated teacher shortage discipline
• The date ISAC is informed that you do not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which you must have begun teaching

Deferments

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period must be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Pursuing a graduate course of study and enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years
• Actively seeking and unable to find full-time employment for one continuous period, not to exceed two years
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to certification/approval in a teacher shortage discipline, but remain enrolled at least half-time in another academic discipline for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years

To qualify for any of these deferments, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

If you are a MTI scholarship recipient, you must teach one year on a full-time basis for each academic year, or portion of an academic year, in which you received the award. This teaching obligation must be fulfilled at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school, at which no less than 30 percent of the enrolled students are minority students as certified by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). You must begin teaching within one year following termination from the program of study funded by the scholarship, and continue until the teaching obligation is fulfilled.

The percentage of an Illinois school's enrolled students meeting minority status requirements can be found at ISBE's eReport Card Public Site. School information is available dating back to 1998.

Extensions

The period to fulfill the teaching requirement may be extended if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time as a graduate student in a course of study related to your field of teaching at an institution of higher learning
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school, at which no less than 30 percent of the enrolled students are minority students as certified by ISBE, for a single period, not to exceed two years in duration
• Taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification as a teacher in Illinois

To qualify for any of these extensions, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

Repayment

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after you stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to certification as a teacher
• The date ISAC is informed that you do not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which you must have begun teaching

Deferments

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period shall be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment for one continuous period, not to exceed two years
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to certification as a teacher, but remain enrolled full-time in another academic discipline

To qualify for any of these deferments, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program

If you are an SETTW recipient, you must teach two years on a full-time basis in the field of special education for any assistance received through the SETTW program. This teaching obligation must be fulfilled at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school beginning within one year and continue for two of the five years immediately following graduation or termination of enrollment.

Extensions

The period to fulfill the teaching requirement may be extended if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Enrolled full-time in an academic program related to the field of teaching, leading to a graduate or postgraduate degree
• Temporarily totally disabled for a period of time not to exceed three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a qualified physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment as a teacher at an Illinois nonprofit public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school for one continuous period, not to exceed two years, and are able to provide evidence of that fact
• Taking additional courses on at least a half-time basis, in order to obtain certification as a teacher in Illinois

To qualify for any of these extensions, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the extensions.

Repayment

If the teaching obligation is not fulfilled, the amount received through the tuition waiver converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount prorated to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest. If applicable, you will pay reasonable collection costs. The interest rate is 5 percent.

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after you stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to initial certification as a teacher in Special Education
• The date ISAC is informed that you do not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which you must have begun teaching in order to complete the teaching obligation within the prescribed timeframe

Deferments

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the waiver, the repayment period shall be completed within five years after the waiver converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily and totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, full-time employment for one continuous period not to exceed two years, and able to provide evidence of that fact
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to a teacher certification in Special Education, but remain enrolled full-time in another academic discipline
• Pursuing a graduate or postgraduate degree and are enrolled on a full- time basis for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years

To qualify for any of these deferments, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP)

If you were a recipient of the now-expired Nurse Educator Scholarship Program, you must work as an educator in an approved program of professional nursing education or an approved program of practical nursing education for five years at an approved Illinois institution. (Due to the many different opportunities to teach, there is no set minimum number of hours that a nurse educator must work to fulfill this commitment. The approved Illinois institution makes the determination of what is considered as one year of teaching.) You must begin teaching within the one year following your termination from the program of study for which you received assistance, and continue until the obligation is fulfilled. Your teaching must fulfill the commitment/agreement that you signed prior to receiving the program benefits, as certified by an authorized individual at the approved Illinois institution.

All proceeds received must have been used for educational expenses. Program recipients agree to provide ISAC with evidence of compliance with program requirements (e.g., respond  to annual follow-up questionnaires, etc.).

Extensions

The five-year period to fulfill the teaching requirement may be extended if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking, but unable to find, employment as a nurse educator at an approved Illinois institution for one continuous period of time—which shall not exceed two years in duration
• Taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, needed to obtain certification in a nursing educator program in Illinois

To qualify for any of these extensions, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

Repayment

If the teaching obligation is not fulfilled, the amount of proceeds received (including scholarship and stipend dollars) converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount of the award prorated to the fraction of the teaching obligation not completed, plus interest. If applicable, you will pay reasonable collection costs. The interest rate is 5 percent.

• Six months after the first day of the calendar month after you stopped pursuing, on a half-time basis, a course of study leading to certification as a nursing educator
  
• The date ISAC is informed that you do not plan to fulfill the teaching obligation
• The day after the latest date upon which you must have begun teaching

If a recipient is required to repay any portion of the proceeds received, the repayment period must be completed within 10 years after the award converts to a loan. The repayment obligation may be temporarily postponed if you are:

• Serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Temporarily totally disabled, for no more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Actively seeking and unable to find full-time employment for one continuous period, not to exceed two years
• Withdrawn from a course of study leading to certification as a nursing educator, but are enrolled full-time in another academic discipline for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years
• Pursuing a graduate course of study and are enrolled on a full-time basis for one continuous period of time, not to exceed three years.

To qualify for any of these deferments, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.

Optometric Education Scholarship Program

If you are an Optometric Education Scholarship Program recipient, you must practice in Illinois as a licensed optometrist for a period of not less than one year for each year of scholarship assistance received. You must also begin practicing optometry in Illinois within one year following completion of the academic program for which you were awarded the scholarship and practice on a continuous basis until the obligation is fully completed.

Extensions

You will not be in violation of the agreement during periods in which you:

• Are serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Are enrolled full-time in a residency program at an approved institution for one continuous period of time, not to exceed one year, following graduation
• Are temporarily totally disabled for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician
• Cannot fulfill the practice obligation due to your death, verified by a certified copy of a death certificate; or cannot fulfill the practice obligation due to disability or incompetency, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician

To qualify for any of these extensions, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and request ISAC to approve the extension.

Repayment

If the requirement to practice optometry in Illinois is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan and you must repay the entire amount of the scholarship(s), prorated according to the fraction of the obligation not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5 percent, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees.

The repayment period starts and interest begins to accrue on the earliest of the following dates:

• The first day of the first calendar month after you have ceased to pursue a course of study leading to certification as an optometrist;
• The date you inform ISAC that you do not plan to fulfill the practice obligation; or
• The day after the latest date upon which you must have begun practicing as an optometrist after completing the education for which the scholarship was awarded.

Deferments

If you are required to repay any portion of the scholarship, the repayment period must be completed within 10 years after the scholarship converts to a loan. The 10-year period may be extended if you:

• Are serving, for not more than three years, as a member of the United States Armed Forces
• Are enrolled full-time in a residency program at an approved institution for one continuous period of time, not to exceed one year, following graduation
• Are temporarily disabled, for not more than three years, as established by the sworn affidavit of a licensed physician

To qualify for any of these deferments, you must provide written evidence of your eligibility and must request ISAC to approve the deferment.