1755 Lake Cook Road Deerfield, IL 60015-5209 800.899.ISAC (4722) Web site: isac.org E-mail: [email protected] Comparison of Teacher Programs

Minority Teachers of Illinois Illinois Special Education Teacher Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program TEACH Grant Program Program (ISAC program)  (ISAC program)  (Federal program) (ISAC/Golden Apple program) Priority Application March 1 prior to start of the academic March 1 prior to start of the academic No deadline date – eligibility Applications must be received by the Deadline Date year (must reapply each year) at an year (must apply only once) at an ISAC- determined by FAFSA completion for deadline date, prior to the 's high and Eligible ISAC-approved Illinois public or approved Illinois public four-year attendance at any participating graduation or during their freshman private college college offering a concentration in in the TEACH Grant Program or sophomore year in college - Illinois special education public and private colleges Enrollment Requirements At least half time as an undergraduate or Register in a special education program No minimum enrollment requirement Full time as an undergraduate graduate student as an undergraduate or graduate student as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate within 10 days of the beginning of the or graduate student term following receipt of the waiver Award Amount Up to $5,000 per year for a maximum of Exemption from paying tuition and Up to $4,000 per year for undergraduate Tuition assistance up to $23,000 (cannot exceed the cost 8 semesters or 12 quarters to cover mandatory fees for up to 4 calendar and/or post-baccalaureate study of attendance) tuition, fees, room and board years at one of the public four-year colleges in Illinois that offer a concentration in special education Awarding Criteria Funds awarded to timely renewal 210 awards given each year to None Golden Apple Foundation selects high applicants first, and then in date enrolled as undergraduate or graduate school and college students each year, received order until funds are students seeking initial certification in according to their guidelines exhausted, with a preference given to any area of special education; 40 awards those in junior status and above; at least given each year to certified teachers 30% of allocated funds reserved for (not already certified in special male students (on January 1 of each education). fiscal year reserved funds may be awarded to female applicants) Program of Study Seeking certification as a teacher at the Seeking initial teacher certification in a Enrolled in coursework necessary to Seeking initial certification as a teacher at , elementary or secondary special education discipline begin in teaching the preschool, elementary, middle or school level or pursuing additional secondary level or pursuing additional work needed to gain ISBE* course work needed to gain ISBE* approval to teach, including alternative approval to teach, including alternative teacher certification teacher certification Teaching Commitment Teach full time (one year for each year Begin teaching on a full-time basis, in Teach full time in a high-need field** in Begin teaching within two years following in which scholarship assistance was the field of special education, within a public or private elementary or completion of degree or certificate program received) in a nonprofit Illinois public, one year following graduation from or or educational service in a nonprofit public, private or parochial private, or parochial preschool, termination of enrollment in a teacher agency that serves low-income students preschool, or a public elementary or elementary or secondary school with at education program, at a recognized for at least four years within eight secondary school of need in Illinois, as least 30% minority enrollment; begin nonprofit public, private or parochial calendar years after completing program defined by the Golden Apple Foundation, teaching within one year following preschool, elementary, or secondary of study for which grant was received and continue teaching for at least five years termination of the academic program of school in Illinois, and continue teaching study funded by the scholarship, and for at least two of the five years teach full time on a continuous basis immediately following until the obligation is fulfilled Repayment Interest at a rate equal to 5%, accrues Interest at a rate equal to 5%, accrues Conversion to Federal Direct Interest at a rate equal to 5%, accrues from (if teaching commitment from repayment date from repayment date Unsubsidized Stafford loan with interest repayment date not fulfilled) rate equal to current Direct loan rate, accrues from disbursement date

* ISBE - Illinois State Board of Education ** High-need fields are identified on the TEACH Grant Program page at studentaid.ed.gov  Students cannot receive an award from more than one ISAC teacher program during the same term

Last updated February 1, 2021 for 2021-22 processing cycle.