104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2485
 
Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Ram Villivalam
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/28 new
    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the Developmental Promise Program to remove barriers to enrollment, academic persistence, and certificate or degree completion for students who need to complete developmental coursework. Provides that, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, each institution of higher education in the State shall provide financial assistance to a qualifying student for the remaining balance of the student's total cost of attendance in excess of the amount of any private, State, or federal financial assistance received by the qualifying student during the first 132 semester credit hours or 198 quarter credit hours that the qualifying student is enrolled in the Developmental Assistance Program. Sets forth requirements for qualified students to receive the remaining balance of financial assistance. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and institutions of higher learning to adopt rules and policies for the administration of the Program.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is 
5amended by adding Section 28 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/28 new)
7    Sec. 28. The Developmental Promise Program.
8    (a) As used in this Section:
9    "College-level English language or mathematics course" or 
10"college-level English language or mathematics coursework" 
11means a course that bears credit and fulfills English language 
12or mathematics credit requirements for a baccalaureate degree, 
13a certificate, or an associate degree from a postsecondary 
14educational institution.
15    "Cost of attendance" means the student's cost of attending 
16an institution of higher education that is determined by the 
17institution of higher education based on federal and State 
18policy, and includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, 
19supplies, transportation, and other allowable expenses.
20    "Developmental education coursework" means a course or a 
21category of courses in which students are placed based on an 
22institution's finding that a student does not have the 
23proficiency necessary to succeed in an introductory 
 
 
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1college-level English language or mathematics course.
2    "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a 
3public community college or university in this State.
4    "Qualifying student" means a resident of Illinois who has 
5been accepted for enrollment at an institution of higher 
6education and who:
7        (1) is enrolled in developmental education coursework;
8        (2) will be 17 years of age or older but under 27 years 
9    of age at the time of financial assistance receipt;
10        (3) is from a household with a family income of 
11    $90,000 or less at the time of enrollment in developmental 
12    coursework.
13    (b) The Developmental Promise Program is created by the 
14Commission. The purpose of the Program is to remove barriers 
15to enrollment, academic persistence, and certificate or degree 
16completion for students who need to complete developmental 
17coursework.
18        (1) Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, each 
19    institution of higher education in the State shall provide 
20    financial assistance to a qualifying student for the 
21    remaining balance of the student's total cost of 
22    attendance in excess of the amount of any private, State, 
23    or federal financial assistance received by the qualifying 
24    student during the first 132 semester credit hours or 198 
25    quarter credit hours that the qualifying student is 
26    enrolled in the Developmental Promise Program.
 
 
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1        (2) To receive the remaining balance of financial 
2    assistance, the qualifying student must:
3            (A) complete the Free Application for Federal 
4        Student Aid or request the financial assistance in 
5        accordance with policies set forth by the institution; 
6        and
7            (B) remain in satisfactory academic standing in 
8        accordance with the academic policies of the 
9        institution and make progress toward the completion of 
10        the requirements of the educational program in which 
11        the qualifying student is enrolled.
12    (c) The Commission shall adopt rules necessary for the 
13administration of this Section.
14    (d) Each institution shall adopt policies for the 
15administration of the Developmental Promise Program.