Education (Student Financial Aid)

Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act. Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to provide scholarship assistance until July 1, 2031 to eligible students for engineering-related study at a public university who agree to work as an engineer for the Department of Transportation for a period of not less than 3 years. Allows the Commission to award scholarships to pay the tuition and fees of a student enrolled in an approved program of professional engineering education for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment. Provides for an additional stipend in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Establishes the total amount of scholarship assistance, the application process, eligibility requirements, and payments and repayments. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to require the Board of Higher Education to establish and administer a competitive grant program for public institutions of higher education that award degrees in engineering. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2032.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Changes the name of the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program to the Social Worker and School Counselor Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Allows a school counselor to apply for the Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a grant of up to $8,000 (rather than $6,500) per year for a maximum of 4 years to each qualified applicant. Provides that a grant shall be used for repayment of the recipient's educational loan instead of the Commission encouraging the recipient to use the grant to repay the recipient's educational loan. Makes other and conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish a Manufacturing Promise Scholarship Program to award scholarships to State residents who are enrolled in a public community college or other program with a major in manufacturing or a skilled trade. Provides that, subject to a separate appropriation for such purposes, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for a scholarship. Provides that an applicant is eligible for a scholarship if the Commission finds that the applicant meets specified criteria. Provides that the Commission shall reserve 20% of the amount appropriated in a given fiscal year for students who are from underrepresented areas. Provides that the Commission shall make scholarships available to traditional college-aged students, adults, and non-traditional students. Provides that an applicant who receives a scholarship may not be required to return scholarship funds. Provides for rulemaking.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships may also be known as School Social Work scholarships. Includes, as a qualified applicant subject to meeting the other requirements, (i) a person who is pursuing a clinical social work license or social work license and (ii) a person who will obtain a master's degree in social work from an approved program before enrolling the academic program that the scholarship would support. Allows scholarships to be applied to the payment of tuition and mandatory fees at a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education in the State that prepares students to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work. Provides that a scholarship for a recipient attending a private, not-for-profit institution shall not exceed the maximum grant payable to a student enrolled in the most expensive comparable program of study at a public university in the State. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Educational Choice for Children Act. Requires the State Board of Education to submit to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and publish on the website of the State Board a list of all scholarship granting organizations that meet the requirements of certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and that are located in the State. Provides that the State Board may establish rules governing the process and documentation necessary for an entity to demonstrate that it qualifies to be included as a scholarship granting organization on the list. Requires the State Board to comply with all federal regulations pertaining to the administration of the federal tax credit established under certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to ensure that the State is eligible to participate in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026. Provides that qualifying scholarship granting organizations on the list may provide scholarships for any qualified elementary or secondary education expense, to the extent allowed under federal law. Provides that the General Assembly voluntarily elects the State to: (1) participate in the federal tax credit for individuals who make qualified contributions to scholarship granting organizations within the State; and (2) identify scholarship granting organizations located in the State. Effective immediately.

SB 3793 reenacts and makes permanent the Invest in Kids Act, allowing Illinois taxpayers to claim a state income tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). These SGOs provide scholarships to eligible students from Illinois households with income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (initially) and 400% after receiving a scholarship, covering necessary school costs and fees at qualified non-public schools. The scholarships are available for students attending non-public schools, including technical academies with approved career and technical education programs. The bill amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to reflect these changes and takes effect immediately.

Creates the Veterans' Dependents and Spouses College Tuition Waiver Act. Provides that an applicant is eligible for a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at a public institution of higher education if the applicant is a spouse or dependent of an eligible veteran, is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the public institution of higher education, and meets residency and enrollment requirements established by rule. Provides that the waiver applies only to tuition and mandatory fees and does not include room, board, books, supplies, or other nonmandatory expenses. Sets forth the length of the waiver. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall administer the waivers created by the Act. Provides that the Act's benefits shall be applied after federal educational benefits have been applied, unless otherwise provided by rule. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits an applicant from receiving federal educational benefits, as long as there is no duplication of State-funded tuition assistance. Allows the Commission to adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Act. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Illinois Educational Choice for Children Act. Provides that on or before January 1, 2027 and annually thereafter, the Governor shall submit to the United States Secretary of the Treasury a list of scholarship granting organizations to opt-in to the federal school choice program under the federal Educational Choice for Children Act. Allows the Governor to develop the list of scholarship granting organizations in consultation with other appropriate State agencies. Requires the submission of the list of scholarship granting organizations to be in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code. Requires the Governor to send a copy of the list of scholarship granting organization to the General Assembly, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Revenue. Effective immediately.

Expresses the belief that nursing, social work, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, physician assistant practice, public health, and education are professional disciplines that require advanced graduate education, professional licensure, and adherence to rigorous ethical and clinical standards. Lists the graduate degrees that should be considered professional degrees. States that any state agency, public university, or entity receiving state funds should take all necessary steps to avoid discrimination against individuals holding these graduate degrees in hiring, promotion, compensation, professional development funding, or other terms and conditions of employment based on any federal student loan classification. Urges the United States Department of Education to include all graduate degrees in nursing, social work, counseling, therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, physician assistant practice, public health, and education in its definition of "professional degrees" for federal student loan purposes. Urges the Illinois Congressional Delegation to advocate for legislation to ensure that graduate students in all health and human services professions have access to adequate federal student loan funding to complete their professional education. Commits to exploring state-level solutions to support graduate education in health and human services professions, including but not limited to scholarships, grants, loan repayment assistance programs, and other workforce development initiatives. Expresses support for the licensed health and human services professionals in Illinois who serve our most vulnerable populations with skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the public good.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. With respect to special education teacher scholarships, provides that up to 50 additional scholarships may be awarded each year to persons who qualify, subject to appropriation to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for this purpose.