SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN) — Governor JB Pritzker signed four bills into law Monday, which are designed to make it easier for Illinois high school students to go to college.
Here is an outline of the four new higher education laws:
- Implementing the Public University Direct Admission Program: Streamlines the admissions process, eliminates unnecessary application fees, and expands access to postsecondary education through a new direct admissions program.
- Expanding Dual Credit Opportunities: Strengthens coordination to ensure dual credit programs are aligned with higher education institutions so more students can benefit from earning college credits.
- Requiring a FAFSA Point-of-Contact: Designates a FAFSA point person at each high school to enhance support for families as they navigate the complex college financing process.
- Requiring FAFSA Assistance Options During School Hours: Increases access and equity by requiring schools to designate time during the school day to provide support on the FAFSA process.
The first law establishes a direct admissions program in Illinois, meaning that participating public universities will offer automatic entry to first-time and transfer students based on their GPA.
“Today, we’re making it cheaper and easier to go to college,” Pritzker said. “Preventing headaches for parents and students and tearing down the hurdles for people to reach their full potential.”
Peggy Heinrich, President of Elgin Community College, praised the second of four bills passed, which applies new standards to dual credit programs for high school students.
Students who are enrolled in college-level courses will now earn both high school and college credit.
“This bill’s important for a number of reasons, but mainly it’s important because it simply expands access and quality and ensures the quality of dual credit in Illinois,” Heinrich said.
The third and fourth measures passed increase in-school support for students who have questions about applications and financial aid.
“Higher Education should be about growth and the opportunity to build a better life, it should not be about piling on debt and mountains of paperwork,” Pritzker said.
Access to higher education has been a priority for Pritzker. Earlier this year, he proposed expanding access to four-year degrees at community colleges as a way to keep the state’s best and brightest in Illinois, though that bill has been tabled until later this year.
For more information on the four higher education bills Pritzker signed into law Monday, visit the governor’s press room here: https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker-signs-college-access-and-affordability-bills-into-law
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
