ISAC Student PortalISAC Communiqué
Volume 35, Number 3C
September 2025
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| High School Counselors/Teachers | |
| ISAC Communiqué |
Welcome to the September 2025 ISAC Communiqué, which is a compilation of e-Messages sent through ISAC's e-Messaging service throughout September.
The articles in this electronic Communiqué have been organized according to the Counselor subscription groups to which the messages were distributed.
Questions?
Questions regarding information in this electronic Communiqué can be directed to Partner Services by calling 866.247.2172 or sending an email message to [email protected]. On occasion, you may be directed to a specific contact person or area; when this occurs, we will provide the appropriate information in the individual article or message.
Processing Update for 2026-27 State Scholars (Impacting High School Graduating Class of 2026)
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on September 24, 2025.
Links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org) unless otherwise noted.
This message provides processing updates about the State Scholar Program (SSP).
Use these links to go to a specific section:
| Submit Sixth Semester Data Online and Batch Submission Now Available; Submit Data by October 31 |
| Early Announcement Processing Data Processing Has Begun; Early Announcements Expected to Begin in Mid-October |
| Corrections |
| Distribution of Congratulatory Letters |
| Printing Certificates of Achievement |
| Illinois State Scholar Badges |
| Appeals |
| Looking Ahead: Final Announcements |
Submit sixth semester data as soon as possible to ensure your students are included when 2026-27 State Scholars are named. The final date through which data will be accepted is Friday, October 31, 2025.
Sixth semester is defined as the third semester prior to graduation – usually, the end of a student's junior year (excluding summer term). When submitting data, remember:
- if your school ranks, unweighted rankings should be provided;
- if your school does not rank, unweighted grade point averages (GPAs) must be provided;
- weighted rankings and GPAs cannot be accepted; and,
- you must submit data for the entire class, including any applicable disqualification codes.
If your high school's sixth semester data has already been successfully submitted (i.e., a confirmation email was received from School Services), go to the Early Announcement Processing section, below.
If your high school still must submit sixth semester data, there are two options: the online process, or in batches (via Excel spreadsheets).
Online Process – Now Available
- Submit your students' sixth semester data via the SSP system.
- The student list is provided based on students who took one of the standardized tests (ACT or SAT).
- Step-by-step instructions for the SSP system, including sample screen prints, are provided via the recently-updated SSP Online Processing User Guide.
- Complete and submit an Illinois SSP Sixth Semester Academic Information Request form for any student who should be considered for SSP designation but does not appear in the SSP system. You may also use this form to notify ISAC of issues that require exceptions processing (i.e., if duplicate student records appear in the SSP system).
Batches (via Excel Spreadsheets) – Remains Available
- Create an Excel spreadsheet with your students' sixth semester data.
- Find formatting specifications for the Excel spreadsheet, along with the SSP File Upload User Guide, in the Methods to Submit Sixth Semester Data area of the Required Sixth Semester Data page.
- Select the "Guidelines and Samples" tab from the SSP system's SSP: File Upload screen to view a sample template.
- If you want to use the template to create your Excel spreadsheet of sixth semester data, remember that you must first save the template to your computer. Enter the data into the file on your computer, save your updates, and then submit that document via the SSP system.
- Once the Excel spreadsheet is ready to submit, log in to the GAP Access portal to access the SSP system, and then follow the on-screen prompts to upload your file to ISAC.
- After the file has been uploaded, the file validation process will begin.
- The validation process will take several minutes. Be sure to monitor the upload, and click the "Refresh" button to confirm the file has validated.
- After validation has completed, the file will have one of two statuses: "Validated" (no errors); or, "Validation Errors Found" (with errors).
- If the file status is "Validated," no further action is required.
- If the file status is "Validation Errors Found," the errors must be corrected before any students on the file can be considered for State Scholar designation. Instructions for correcting errors are provided in the SSP File Upload User Guide.
A State Scholar early announcement option is again available this year.
- Sixth semester data processing has started, and ISAC anticipates the first round of early announcements being made in mid-October.
- You can choose whether your high schools' eligible students will be included in the early processing cycle.
- Check the "Run Selection" box (located on the "State Scholar Program: Search By School: Results" screen of the SSP system) to allow your students to be included for consideration in the next round of announcements.
- For high schools that submit sixth semester data via an Excel spreadsheet, the "Run Selection" checkbox becomes available to check after ISAC has processed the file and resolved any discrepancies.
- An email is sent to the high school's Primary Administrator (principal) and the School Contact (as listed in the SSP system's "State Scholar Program: Search by School: Results" screen) to indicate when the "Run Selection" box is available to check.
- Before checking the box, be sure to review all submitted student data for accuracy.
- For high schools that use the online process, the "Run Selection" box will be available immediately. Simply check the "Run Selection" box once your school's final sixth semester data has been submitted.
- If your high school submits sixth semester data but chooses not to participate in the early announcements process (i.e., the "Run Selection" box is not checked), your students will be considered for State Scholar designation when the last announcement round takes place (expected in early December).
- If your high school participates in the early announcement process, you may print Certificates of Achievement as soon as your Scholars have been named.
- You may generate the "Finalists" report in the SSP system after your State Scholars have been announced.
- The distribution of congratulatory letters is anticipated for mid-December, after the final round of announcements has been completed.
- Once your high school's 2026-27 State Scholars have been announced, corrections to already-submitted data would need to be submitted as follows:
- Changes (for example, correcting the spelling of a name, or reporting that a student was designated as a State Scholar in error) must be submitted in writing to Partner Services via one of the following options:
- fax to 847.831.8549,
- email to [email protected], or
- regular mail to our Deerfield address.
- Changes (for example, correcting the spelling of a name, or reporting that a student was designated as a State Scholar in error) must be submitted in writing to Partner Services via one of the following options:
Distribution of Congratulatory Letters
In past years, ISAC has mailed congratulatory letters directly to State Scholars. Unfortunately, recent changes in ACT and SAT data prevent us from obtaining mailing addresses for some students.
- In the current processing cycle (for students entering college in 2026-27), ISAC will print and mail State Scholar congratulatory letters to participating high schools after the final round of announcements has been completed.
- We ask schools to distribute the letters to State Scholars in a manner that works best for them.
- Beginning with next year's cycle (for students entering college in 2027–28), ISAC will no longer print and mail congratulatory letters.
- High schools will access student notifications through the SSP system and share them with their State Scholars.
- Detailed instructions for accessing student notifications will be provided when this functionality becomes available.
Printing Certificates of Achievement
All high schools need to print Certificates of Achievement for their State Scholars.
- You can download and print Certificates of Achievement as soon as your Scholars have been named.
- Instructions for downloading and printing Certificates of Achievement are provided in the SSP Online Processing User Guide.
Included in the congratulatory letter is information regarding a digital Illinois State Scholar badge issued by ISAC. The badge can be displayed on a State Scholar's online profiles and social media accounts, and shared with high school counselors, prospective colleges, employers, family members and others. Scholars may access their badges by visiting the ISAC Student Portal at isac.org/studentportal/badge and then following the on-screen prompts. Complete instructions are available via at the ISAC website.
Validating a Badge
To validate a badge's authenticity, the Scholar will need to provide either a link (URL) to the badge or the badge ID.
- If the link (URL) has been provided: click on the link, which will launch the Badge Verification screen. The badge ID will automatically be populated, so you only need to click on "Check Badge ID."
- To verify a badge without the link (URL): you will need to access the State Scholar Program Badge area (located within the Toolbox section of the ISAC Student Portal), click on "Badge Verification," enter the Scholar's badge ID, and then click on "Check Badge ID."
A validated badge will display "Badge ID is valid for: (FIRST NAME) (LAST NAME)."
- If you feel that a student should have been designated as a State Scholar and was not, ISAC must receive a letter of appeal from the student and/or high school on or before the appeal deadline.
- The deadline for 2026-27 State Scholar appeals will be determined, and all appeals will be considered, after all Scholars have been announced (anticipated for early December).
- Details regarding the appeals process are provided at the Appeals page of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area.
- As you counsel students or parents with questions regarding the selection process, you might choose to share with them the student's GPA or class rank data that the high school submitted to ISAC, and explain how that information is used in the eligibility formula. An updated "Formula Used to Determine State Scholar Eligibility" resource will soon be available via the State Scholar Program page that is located within the Students & Parents section of the ISAC website.
Looking Ahead: Final Announcements
- A sample press release, which may assist you in announcing State Scholars, will be provided at the ISAC website after final announcements have been made.
Reminder: Register Now for ISAC's In-Person Trainings!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on September 22, 2025.
Don’t miss your chance to join ISAC’s fall in-person professional development trainings! Sessions are happening at multiple locations across Illinois and attendees will earn professional development and continuing education hours!
View the schedule and register on ISAC’s Upcoming Professional Development Offerings page. Advance registration is required, as walk-in registration is not guaranteed.
We’d like to thank our community college partners for hosting us!
For questions, contact [email protected].
FREE Professional Development Webinars This Fall!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on September 9, 2025.
We are excited to share our lineup of free webinars this fall. Please share these opportunities with colleagues and partners! Professional Development and Continuing Education hours are available.
For registration details and more information, visit the Upcoming Professional Development Offerings page.
For questions, contact [email protected].
Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on September 3, 2025.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to share information which may be helpful to you and/or your college-bound students.
Links in this message go to ISAC's website (isac.org) unless otherwise noted.
You may scroll through this message, or click a link to go to a specific section:
2027-28 (July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028)
2026-27 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027)
2025-26 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026)
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
One Click College Admit Opt-in Now Available for Students
One Click College Admit – an initiative of the State of Illinois – is the state's free, quick, and stress-free direct admissions program into most state public universities and all community colleges.
Participating students pay no application fees and do not need to submit essays or letters of recommendation for general admission to these state universities or their local community college – the only requirement to be considered for admission to most of the state's universities is meeting the university's minimum grade point average (GPA).
Interested students can visit One Click College Admit (https://oneclickadmit.org/) for more information and to opt in to participate. Please note, students who are under 18 years of age must have their parent or guardian complete and sign the consent and release form.
By June 30, 2026: High School Juniors Take College Assessment Exams for State Scholar Consideration
Eligibility for the State Scholar Program is based, in part, on a student's highest qualifying ACT or SAT score. High school juniors who are potential candidates need to take one of the accepted exams during the specified timeframe to be considered for State Scholar designation, even though Illinois' public institutions are prohibited from requiring the submission of student test scores as part of the admissions process.
For students who are high school juniors during the 2025-26 school year, only exams taken between August 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 qualify for consideration in the State Scholar announcements that will be made during their senior year (i.e., high school juniors, who will be college freshmen during the 2027-28 academic year, will be named Scholars during the fall of 2026). Further details are provided for students at the State Scholar Program page within the Students & Parents area.
By October 1: Anticipated 2026-27 FAFSA® Availability
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) shared the anticipated schedule for the launch of the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) in a June 23, 2025 electronic announcement.
- Beta 1: Starting on August 4, 2025, the 2026-27 FAFSA form became available for testing with a limited group of school districts, community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education through in-person and virtual events.
- Beta 2: With the conclusion of Beta 1, any student or parent may ask to participate in beta testing via the Federal Student Aid website (studentaid.gov). ED will admit groups of users throughout the month.
- The application is expected to be available to all students on or before October 1, 2025.
ISAC's 2026-27 FAFSA Completion area will be updated as details are released regarding the 2026-27 federal process for requesting financial aid.
College-bound students and their families, who may be seeking information, can be directed to the Financial Aid: Completing the FAFSA area of ISAC's website – which will also be updated as information becomes available – and studentaid.gov.
FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant, as well as several other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance.
ISAC anticipates availability of the 2026-27 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) to coincide with when the 2026-27 FAFSA becomes available to all students (by October 1, 2025).
State Scholar Processing Update (determining 2026-27 State Scholars)
Submit Sixth Semester Data
Sixth semester data – which will be used to determine State Scholar designation for Illinois students who will be college freshmen during the 2026-27 academic year, and will be named Scholars during the fall of 2025 – is being accepted via the State Scholar component of ISAC's Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal.
The option to submit sixth semester data in batches (via Excel spreadsheets) is available now, and availability of the online process is anticipated for later this fall.
New for the 2026-27 State Scholar processing cycle, an "Illinois Resident" field appears on the SSP Data Exchange Layout (and a corresponding column will appear on the School List screen in the SSP system). Schools will be asked to complete the field with a "Y" or "N" response.
The early announcement option is again being offered this processing cycle.
GAP Access Reminders
- High schools choosing to participate in the State Scholar Program process must be registered to utilize GAP Access.
- Information regarding how to register for GAP Access is provided via the Required Sixth Semester Data page within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs section.
- Each time a user logs in to the GAP Access portal, the two-factor authentication process requires the use of a one-time verification code – which is obtained through an application – in conjunction with a user ID and password.
- Please report any changes in your school's administration (i.e., new principal) to ISAC.
- In keeping with the goal of securing all confidential data, the principal of each high school is designated as that school's GAP Access Primary Administrator.
- While we understand principals are not usually involved in the day to day processes, we do require the school principal to register for their own GAP Access account.
Further information is provided in an August 14 e-Message about State Scholar processing. Watch for additional updates – including availability of the online option to provide/review individual records, and scheduling of the first round of early announcements – via the standard communication methods (i.e., the Counselor Message Board, the State Scholar Program News section, and ISAC's e-Messaging service). Processing updates will also be communicated via a yellow highlighted box that appears on the "State Scholar Program: Search By School: Results" screen.
2025-26 FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available
Although ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2025-26 MAP grants (for all students whose initial 2025-26 FAFSA is received and processed by the federal processor, or whose initial Alternative Application is received and processed by ISAC, after June 5, 2025), these 2025-26 applications remain available online. Please inform any 2025 high school graduates with whom you may be in contact that their 2025-26 application should be completed and submitted as soon as possible if they will be attending college between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance. The suspension of 2025-26 MAP award announcements does not impact any other financial aid programs.
September 18: Next Commission Meeting
The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place at 1:00 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Further details, including a listing of tentative agenda items, will be available prior to the meeting via the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area.
Visit the Commission Meeting Schedule page for information regarding all meetings scheduled in 2025.
Back to School Webinars in September
As staff and students are heading back to school, we want to remind you that the ISAC Transcript Exchange, through our partnership with Parchment, enables the electronic exchange of transcript information for Illinois students. The Parchment Customer Success Team is offering an online webinar on September 9 and again on September 23. Further details, including access to webinar registration, is provided in an August 26 e-Message.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Monday, October 13 – Columbus Day
- Tuesday, November 11 – Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day
- Friday, November 28 – Day after Thanksgiving
- Thursday, December 25 – Christmas
- Thursday, January 1 – New Year's Day
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
For Assistance
Access the Counselors area anytime, or send an email message to Partner Services at [email protected]. We will review and respond to messages during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (CT).
Register for ISAC's In-Person Trainings!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on September 3, 2025.
ISAC’s fall in-person professional development schedule is now available! Professional Development and Continuing Education hours are available and trainings will be held at multiple locations across Illinois.
View the schedule and register on ISAC’s Upcoming Professional Development Offerings page. Please share these opportunities with colleagues and partners!
Advanced registration is required, as walk-in registration is not guaranteed. We encourage everyone to check back often as new dates and locations are added.
We’d like to thank our community college partners for hosting us!
For questions, contact [email protected].
HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS/TEACHERS
2026-27 MAP Start-up Formula Approved
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers on September 19, 2025.
The following actions were taken at the September 18, 2025 meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. You can find a listing of all agenda items in the September 18, 2025 agenda book, located in the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of ISAC's website (isac.org).
FY27 (2026-27 Academic Year) MAP Start-up Formula Approved – Agenda Item 4
Because the fiscal year 2027 (FY27) state budget process has not started yet, staff assumed that the Monetary Award Program (MAP) will receive the same amount as the FY26 appropriation of $721.6 million. The Commission approved using the following FY26 recompute formula elements in the start-up formula for 2026-27 MAP grants:
- 2021-22 reported tuition and fees;
- the 2021-22 Pell Grant Payment Schedule;
- a $5,200 living allowance; and,
- an $8,400 maximum award (with an effective maximum of $8,064 after the 4% reduction).
Details of the approved start-up formula can be found at ISAC's website, in the MAP section of the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area.
Encourage Students to Submit 2026-27 FAFSA® or Alternative Application
Encourage your college-bound seniors to submit the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as soon as the applications become available to all students (expected on October 1, 2025). ISAC staff monitors application volume throughout the year to ensure that MAP awarding fits the available funding.
Additional Items
The Commission also approved these items:
- 2026 Meeting Dates – Agenda Item 1
- College Illinois!® Prepaid Tuition Program Updates – Agenda Item 5
Next Meeting
The next Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025.
Commission Meeting Thursday, September 18
Sent to High School Counselors/Teachers on September 15, 2025.
The next regular meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. (CT). You may attend the meeting at either the ISAC Deerfield or Springfield office location (see below for addresses).
Some of the items on the tentative agenda are:
- 2026 meeting dates and locations
- Fiscal year 2027 Monetary Award Program (MAP) start-up formula
- College Illinois!® Prepaid Tuition Program investment and program updates
The complete listing of agenda items is included in the September 18, 2025 agenda book, which can be accessed via the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission area of our website (isac.org). The online agenda book will be updated within 1-2 business days following the meeting to reflect action taken.
Deerfield office
1755 Lake Cook Road
Conference Room 3030, 3rd floor
Deerfield
Enter through the east door and check in at the desk.
Springfield office
500 West Monroe
Conference Room, 3rd floor
Springfield
Enter from the rear parking lot (through the door on the east) and then use the elevator or stairs.
August 2025 ISAC Communiqué
Sent on September 2, 2025.
The August 2025 edition of the ISAC Communiqué is now available for your review, and may be accessed via the Partner e-Messages & Newsletters section of the e-Library for Partners at isac.org. This electronic version of ISAC's newsletter is a compilation of information provided to Counselor partners via ISAC's e-Messaging service over the past month.
Topics covered in the August 2025 ISAC Communiqué include:
- Transcript Exchange – Back to School Webinars
(sent August 26, 2025) - State Scholar Processing Has Begun
(sent August 14, 2025) - July 2025 ISAC Communiqué
(sent August 1, 2025)
Encourage Your Colleagues to Sign Up for e-Messaging
ISAC's e-Messaging service is our primary means of communicating information to Counselor partners.
Encourage your colleagues who have not done so to subscribe through the Counselors e-Messaging sign-up page at isac.org today, so that they won't miss future announcements or updates from ISAC.
