Abel Montoya Director of Outreach Operations Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Increase the proportion of Illinois adults with a postsecondary credential to 60% by 2025

 More than 46,100 student did not graduate from Illinois’ high schools in 2009* ◦ Lost lifetime earnings of nearly $12 billion ◦ Lost over $2.8 billion in accumulated wealth ◦ $210.2 million in community college remediation cost and lost earnings ◦ $647 million in additional health care costs *

 If students color graduate at same rate as Caucasian students, $13 billion would be added to Illinois’ economy.  If male grad rate increased by 5%, state would see $379 million in reduced crime spending and increased earnings each year. *

College Illinois Transcript Exchange FAFSA data sharing partnerships

Career planning High school planning College planning Financial aid planning

Inventories help students find possible careers and identifies the paths needed to reach goal

No right or wrong answers! Purpose: Bring the student’s qualities & strengths to the surface What are my strengths? What are my Interests? What do I need from work? Ability ProfilerInterest ProfilerWork Values Sorter Basic Skills SurveyCluster Finder Workplace Skills Checklist

Reinforces the expectation of graduating from high school

Free test prep College search Explore majors

EFC calculator Scholarship search Financial literacy information

Provides overview of site Can connect to student account Translated into Spanish

 Review student profiles  Create groups to manage students  Outcome and usage reports  Communication tool  Site level customization

Assisting with the transition to postsecondary institutions

 Collaboration between ISAC and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) ◦ Electronic delivery of high school transcripts to colleges ◦ Process by which students will be considered for ISAC’s High School Scholarship Programs (HSSP)  Statewide initiative

 Using Docufide by Parchment for program  Weekly webinars through mid August  Registration for high schools begins on August 15  Can be implemented on district or LEA level  Sending transcripts to colleges is available immediately  Sending data electronically to ISAC commences next year  No cost to student, high school, or college

 Available to MAP (Monetary Award Program) approved colleges ◦ 53 colleges already registered in Illinois ◦ 11 of 12 public universities in Illinois are registered  Can send transcripts electronically for free to registered colleges in 11 other Midwest Higher Education Compact (MHEC) states

 Can send transcripts from high school to high school  Colleges can send transcripts to ISBE as part of teacher certification process  Unique ISBE state identifier on transcript will assist with state longitudinal data system  Ease process for students applying to and matriculating at postsecondary institutions

Initiatives to increase FAFSA completion rates

 Goal: 800,000 applications for academic year ◦ 643,078 (60%) as of July 21  Website gives breakdown by high school, number completed, and percentage completed: ◦ Numbers are based on internal matching process  “Applying for financial aid is not easy, but it may be the most critical step for low-income students on the road to college.” 1  1 Roderick, M., Nagoaka, J., Coca, & Moeller, E. (2008). Executive Summary: From High School to the Future—Potholes on the Road to College, 4.

 Data sharing agreement between school district and ISAC is put in place  District sends encrypted list identifying students eligible to fill out FAFSA  ISAC compares list with FAFSA data  ISAC sends encrypted list to district identifying which students have completed FAFSA  District informs their staff which students have yet to complete the FAFSA  ISAC outreach staff will assist with FAFSA completion workshops

 FAFSA data sharing program began in 2007  List is sent on a weekly basis  List only contains students eligible to fill out FAFSA  Counselors seek out students at school  Significant increase since program inception

*Matching project began with the graduating class of 2007 for FY08 FAFSAs # of seniors# completing FAFSA % completing FAFSA FY ,36610, % FY 2008*17,62910, % FY ,48412, % FY ,61513, % FY ,61315, % FY ,36815, %

 First year receiving data ◦ Rockford Public Schools ◦ District U-46 (Elgin School District)  Recent agreements ◦ Eldorado High School ◦ Woodlawn High School  And counting...

 Required to receive state and federal grants  Provides access to subsidized loans  Determines eligibility for work-study  Used by colleges to determine eligibility for certain institutional monies  Reinforces college going mentality

 MAP Grant ◦ Funding is precarious at times ◦ Increased need in Illinois results in earlier suspension date:  March 26, 2011  April 19, 2010  May 15, 2009  July 26, 2008  PELL Grant ◦ Funding is currently being debated in DC...

 Assist students and parents in creating accounts in  Have high schools participate in College Illinois Transcript Exchange webinars  Have MAP approved colleges in Illinois register to be electronic receivers of transcripts  Share FAFSA Data Sharing Agreement with high schools and/or high school districts  Advocate for continued MAP & PELL funding