Award Determination for IFTC

Award Determination Overview

The total number of scholarships awarded each year is contingent upon the funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly.

The awarding is based on a combination of factors. All timely applicants, are included in the initial awarding process if their college or university submitted an Initial Certification to ISAC by the requested ISAC receipt date. Renewal applicants receive priority consideration, and then a combination of the following awarding selection criteria is applied:

• Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA); 
• Status as a minority student; and 
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC), from the lowest to the highest.

Students, who apply after the priority application deadline of March 1, will be ranked using the above criteria and given consideration for the scholarship if funds remain after all qualified timely applicants have been awarded.

Student Award Announcements

Based on the Initial Certification that the postsecondary school submits to ISAC, as well as the above factors, ISAC proceeds with the awarding process and sends the appropriate notification for each applicant.

One of three types of award announcements is sent to eligible students. Award information is available at My Zone after each round of awarding to assist in identifying which students were eligible for TESP awards and which students would be funded.

The three award announcement categories for eligible students are:

• Eligible - Funded - students who are eligible for the award; 
• Eligible - Unavailable Funds - students who are eligible for the award, but for whom funds are not available; and 
• Eligible - Unavailable Funds (IFTC Teachers Only) - students who are eligible for an award based on enrollment in a teacher education program, but for whom funds are not available.

Applicants determined to be ineligible for the award receive a Notification of Ineligibility. They have the option to appeal the denial.  Students who no longer qualify for the scholarship will receive a Notification of Disqualification letter from ISAC. 

Award Amount

The amount of each award is determined by whether the applicant is studying a teacher shortage discipline or agreeing to teach at a hard-to-staff school or both. Award amounts are as follows:

• Up to $5,000 for individuals who agree to teach in a Teacher Shortage Discipline: or 
• Up to $5,000 for individuals who agree to teach in a hard-to-staff school: or 
• Up to $10,000 for individuals who agree to teach in a Teacher Shortage Discipline at a hard-to-staff school; or
• An Eligible - Unavailable Funds letter will be mailed to applicants who are enrolled in a teacher education programs but not in a TSD and do not commit to teach at a HTSS.  

	Up to $10,000	Up to $5,000	Up to $5,000	Eligible- Unavailable Funds letter
Agrees to teach in a HTSS	YES	YES	NO	NO
Teach in a TSD	YES	NO	YES	NO

A recipient may receive up to 4 semesters or 6 quarters of assistance.

• The IFTC scholarship is applicable only toward tuition, fees and room and board charges or commuter allowances, if applicable. This scholarship may also be used to replace the student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
• The annual scholarship amount shall be computed by the institution and be the lesser of:
  • Tuition and fees plus room and board expenses charged by the institution; 
  • Tuition and fees plus the institution's standard cost of living allowance for students living off-campus; or 
  • The maximum award. 
• The total amount of the IFTC Program assistance awarded to a qualified applicant in a given academic year, when added to the other financial aid available to the qualified applicant for that year, cannot exceed the cost of attendance.