ISAC Student PortalISAC Update
VOL. 43, NO. 8F
February 2026
| Messages sent to: | Multiple Subscription Groups |
| ISAC Update |
Welcome to the February 2026 ISAC Update for financial aid administrators and business officers. This version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent through ISAC's e-Messaging service throughout February.
The articles in this Update have been organized according to the FAA subscription groups to which the messages were distributed.
Questions?
Questions regarding information in this ISAC Update 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.
Save the Date for the 2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® ) Symposium! Call for Proposals now open!
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on February 25, 2026.
We are excited to invite you to our sixth annual FAFSA Symposium!
The FAFSA Symposium is a one-day event taking place March 24, 2026, at Illinois Central College for attendees to learn about best practices for supporting students through the financial aid process. We look forward to seeing you!
Registration for the symposium is $25 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, and symposium materials. Advance registration is required. Walk-in registration is not available. For more information about the symposium, visit the FAFSA Symposium page.
Call for Proposals
We invite school counselors, college and career staff, financial aid administrators, community-based organizations, and other college-access professionals who support students and families through the financial aid process to submit a session proposal to present at the FAFSA Symposium!
Our session proposal form is now open and will close Thursday, March 5, 2026. Session guidelines can be found on the session proposal form.
For questions, contact [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you there!
Workforce Pell: Preliminary Information
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on February 18, 2026.
With the passage of Workforce Pell as part of Public Law 119-21 last year, we know that many members of the financial aid community are awaiting details on how the program expansion will be implemented in Illinois. Preliminary information about the process is below, including a link to a form where you can submit questions or comments.
Workforce Pell is an upcoming expansion of the federal Pell Grant program that would allow eligible students to use Pell funding for high-quality, short-term workforce programs aligned with in-demand occupations.
In anticipation of this expansion, Illinois has begun coordination across state agencies and partners to prepare for implementation. Through an interagency working group that includes the Governor’s Office, representatives from the Board of Higher Education, Community College Board, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Department of Employment Security, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, the state is reviewing federal guidance, assessing program eligibility and approval processes, and identifying operational and data considerations to ensure high-quality implementation. Illinois' primary goal is to maximize access to high-quality programs while maintaining consumer protection. The interagency team will soon engage the public and various stakeholders to elevate implementation opportunities and seek solutions to challenges as the state prepares to respond once federal requirements are finalized. Please be on the lookout for those opportunities.
Please direct all feedback or questions through this form. Thank you!
Last Seats: Disengaged Teen Author Event
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on February 17, 2026.
We're writing with a reminder to register for our upcoming author event featuring Rebecca Winthrop, Ph.D., and to let you know that only a few seats remain.
In partnership with the Family Action Network, ISAC is pleased to host Rebecca Winthrop, author of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better, on February 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the ISAC Deerfield office.
In this timely conversation, Rebecca Winthrop will share key insights from her book on how schools and education systems can better support student engagement by fostering agency, purpose, and real-world connections. The discussion will be followed by a discussion and Q&A with attendees. Learn more at https://www.thedisengagedteen.com/.
Winthrop is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution and the author of several books on education. Her research focuses on global education, with particular attention to the skills young people need to thrive in work, life and civic engagement.
She currently leads the Brookings Global Task Force on AI in Education and co-leads the Family Engagement in Education Network. Previously, she served as chair of the U.N. secretary-general's Global Education First Initiative Technical Advisory Group, helping to shape an education vision centered on access, quality and global citizenship.
More information on Rebecca Winthrop:
https://www.brookings.edu/people/rebecca-winthrop/
Space is extremely limited, and registration is required. Registration closes Thursday, February 19, 2026, or sooner if capacity is reached.
Register Now to secure one of the few remaining seats.
Special Offer: The first 100 registered attendees will receive a signed copy of The Disengaged Teen.
Upcoming Important Dates from ISAC
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on February 13, 2026.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to share information which may be helpful to you and/or your 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:
2026-27 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027)
2025-26 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026)
2024-25 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025)
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
March 1: Illinois SETTW Priority Application Consideration Date
Remind your students who plan to pursue a career in teaching that March 1, 2026 is the priority application consideration date for the 2026-27 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program. In order to complete the SETTW application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).
Complete applications received after March 1 will be considered only if available tuition waivers remain after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.
April 30: NES Applications Due
The Nursing Education Scholarship (NES) application period each year starts on March 1 and continues through April 30. NES applications for the 2026-27 academic year must be submitted no later than Thursday, April 30, 2026. In order for the application to be considered complete, the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) must also be submitted.
June 1: Budget Data Due
The annual reporting of postsecondary institutions' budget information is anticipated to begin in early April 2026. ISAC will notify colleges when this data is being accepted for the 2026-27 academic year. Colleges participating in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) and Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant programs must then submit 2026-27 budget data to ISAC no later than Monday, June 1, 2026.
FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available
The 2026-27 FAFSA remains available online, and – if not already done – should be completed as soon as possible by students who will be attending college between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for the MAP grant, as well as several other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance.
In addition, the 2026-27 Alternative Application is also available (in English and Spanish). Further details are provided at ISAC's Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act page.
Encourage your students to check out the Financial Aid Planning area for information regarding resources that are available to help them complete the financial aid process.
February 16: Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Priority Application Consideration Date
Remind your students who plan to pursue a career in teaching that February 16, 2026 is the priority application consideration date for the 2025-26 Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program. In order to complete the Teachers of Illinois Scholarship application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).
In addition to the Teachers of Illinois Scholarship application, a 2025-26 FAFSA or Alternative Application (if applicable) must also be submitted by February 16.
Complete applications – including the 2025-26 FAFSA (or Alternative Application, if applicable) – received after February 16 will be considered only if funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.
Further details are available in the January 13, 2026 "Spread the News about the Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program" e-Message.
March 1: PFC Spring-Term Application Deadline
March 1, 2026 is the spring- and summer-term application deadline for the 2025-26 Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers (PFC). Students complete and submit PFC applications online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer-term awards only.
March 1: Spring-Term Application Deadline for the Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program
March 1, 2026 is the spring- and summer-term application deadline for the 2025-26 Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer-term awards only.
March 27: MAP Second-Term Claims Due
Colleges are encouraged to submit 2025-26 MAP claims for the second term (winter for quarter schools; spring for semester schools) as soon as possible, and no later than the March 27, 2026 claim deadline date.
Further details are provided in the January 5, 2026 "ISAC Accepting 2025-26 MAP Second-Term Claims" e-Message.
Reminders
- Late claims for the first (fall) term received from December 6, 2025 through (including) January 23, 2026 were released for payment in late January. First-term claims have since been released for payment through (including) February 10, 2026.
- ISAC continues to accept fall-term claims; however, initial claims and upward adjustment amounts for the fall term will be held as late, to be considered for payment later in the year.
- With data analysis reflecting decreases in projected claim rates, 2025–26 MAP award announcements for students who submitted an initial FAFSA or Alternative Application from June 6, 2025, through (including) July 1, 2025 were released from suspense status.
- The deadline date for submitting initial first-term claims for these released records, as well as second-term claims, is March 27, 2026.
- Announcements of 2025-26 MAP grants remain in suspense status for all eligible students with initial FAFSA or Alternative Application receipt dates on or after July 2, 2025.
March 30: Second-term Priority Claim Deadline for ECACE, Golden Apple, NES & Social Work Scholarship
ISAC is accepting payment requests (claims) for the second term (winter for quarter schools; spring for semester schools) for the 2025-26 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship, Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Golden Apple), NES, and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship (Social Work Scholarship) programs. The second-term priority claim deadline for these programs is March 30, 2026.
In addition, even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2025 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay first-term claims for the ECACE, Golden Apple, NES, and Social Work Scholarship programs through March 30, 2026.
Further details are available in the January 16, 2026 "Submit 2025-26 Claims and Benefit Usage Data for Second Term" e-Message.
Continue Submitting Benefit Usage Data for ING Grant and IVG
ISAC is accepting spring-term (second semester/second & third quarter) benefit usage data for the 2025-26 ING Grant and IVG programs.
In order to be considered timely:
- ING Grant data for the spring term is due Friday, May 29, 2026.
- IVG data for the spring term is due Friday, May 29, 2026.
- Even though the dates have passed by which summer- (for the IVG Program) and fall-term (for the ING Grant and IVG programs) data must have been submitted in order to be considered timely, colleges are still encouraged to submit benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.
Benefit usage data for the ING Grant and IVG programs is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within each program's system, allowing colleges to report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data. Even though ISAC may not be able to fully reimburse institutions for 2025-26 ING Grant or IVG awards, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
Further details are available in the January 16, 2026 "Submit 2025-26 Claims and Benefit Usage Data for Second Term" e-Message.
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 was submitted to the federal processor or whose initial Alternative Application was submitted to ISAC on or after July 2, 2025), these 2025-26 applications remain available online. If not already done, an application should be completed and submitted as soon as possible by students who 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.
February 20: Enrollment Verification Data for ISAC-Administered Teacher Education Programs Due
ISAC is accepting 2024-2025 enrollment verification data for students who previously received funds from the following ISAC-administered teacher programs:
- SETTW Program
- Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program
- Optometric Education Scholarship Program (OESP) (as a reminder, OESP awards are available only for students attending the Illinois College of Optometry)
Further details and instructions regarding the enrollment verification process are provided in the January 21, 2026 "Teacher Program Enrollment Verification Update" e-Message, and via the resources listed below:
- Enrollment Status Verification
- Enrollment Status Verification for the Teacher Programs User Guide
- Program Service Requirements
Upcoming Webinars
ISAC will offer "Monthly Operational Update and Program News" webinars for financial aid administrators at 2:00 p.m. (CT) on the following dates.
- Wednesday, February 25, 2026
- Wednesday, March 25, 2026
- Wednesday, April 29, 2026
To participate, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library on the day of the event to access the webinar link and presentation materials.
February 26: Success Network Conference
If you have not already done so, register today for the 13th annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network (Success Network) conference – Stronger Together: Creating Opportunity for Every Learner – being held on February 26, 2026, at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. Further details, including access to online registration, are provided in the February 11, 2026 "Register Now for Success Network Conference" e-Message.
March 9-11: ILASFAA Annual Conference
Be sure to register for the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA) annual conference – Navigating the Upside Down – which is taking place March 9-11, 2026, at The Westin Chicago Lombard Center in Lombard.
April 16: Next Commission Meeting
The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026. 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 2026.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Monday, February 16, 2026 – Presidents' Day
- Monday, May 25, 2026 – Memorial Day
- Friday, June 19, 2026 – Juneteenth
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
Processing Schedules
All ISAC-administered program systems within the GAP Access portal remain available on holidays during regularly-scheduled hours. For MAP and other programs administered through components of the GAP Access portal, results for claims submitted from 5:00 p.m. (CT) the business day prior to the holiday through 5:00 p.m. (CT) the business day following the holiday will be available via the appropriate program's system on the morning of the second business day after the holiday.
For Assistance
Access the Financial Aid Administrators 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 Now for 2026 Success Network Conference
Sent to Financial Aid Directors and Financial Aid Administrators on February 11, 2026.
Reserve your spot! The countdown is on for the February 26 conference at Moraine Valley Community College. With cross-sector collaboration at the heart of this year's theme, you'll find sessions designed for every stakeholder in the college and career success ecosystem, including:
- A Comprehensive Approach to Understanding and Improving Chronic Absenteeism – Holistic exploration of factors contributing to chronic absenteeism and practical strategies for addressing it
- Bridging the Gap: Cross-Sector Collaboration for Student Success – Spotlights two Leadership Communities' innovative partnerships that prepare students for postsecondary success
- Dual Credit through Intercampus Collaboration – Learn how Illinois Eastern Community Colleges brings dual-credit instruction to rural high school students across four campuses
- From Classroom to Career: Navigating Postsecondary Futures with Artificial Intelligence – Explore fun and practical ways to teach AI literacy and prepare students for the future of work
- Illinois' Apprenticeship Expansion Framework: Systems Building for Career-Connected Learning – Discover emerging supports and tools for expanding apprenticeships as sustainable pathways
- Understanding Young People's Perceptions of College – New research exploring what drives and deters the next generation of college students
Secure your registration before February 24 at noon – register here. Professional development and continuing education hours are available.
ISAC Monthly Webinar for FAAs on February 25
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on February 10, 2026.
Plan to join the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) at 2:00 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 for a "Monthly Program & Operational Update" webinar for financial aid administrators.
Mark your calendar now for future monthly webinars that will take place at 2:00 p.m. (CT) on the following dates:
- Wednesday, March 25, 2026
- Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Registration is not required for these webinars. Participate by accessing the webinar link and presentation materials at the Partner Training page in the e-Library on the day of the event.
Requests for specific topics or questions you would like an upcoming webinar to address may be submitted by sending an email to Partner Services at [email protected].
Registration is Open for the 2026 ILASFAA Conference
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on February 10, 2026.
Navigating the Upside Down! Join us at the ILASFAA Annual Conference, March 9–11, 2026, at The Westin Chicago Lombard in Lombard, Illinois. Please join us for a conference packed with valuable knowledge and insights, inspiring and motivational sessions, policy updates, professional development opportunities, and maybe some Stranger Things!
Early bird registration is available until February 15, 2026, so make sure to secure your spot!
For more information about the conference and to register, visit the conference page on ILASFAA's website.
Join Us: The Disengaged Teen Book Talk
Sent to Financial Aid Directors, Financial Aid Administrators, Public Schools – Participating in the ING Grant and IVG Programs, MAP Users, Business Officers, ECACE Administrators, and NES Schools on February 2, 2026.
In partnership with the Family Action Network, ISAC is pleased to host Rebecca Winthrop, Ph.D., author of "The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better," at the ISAC Deerfield office on February 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
In "The Disengaged Teen," Winthrop examines how schools and education systems can better support student engagement by fostering agency, purpose and connections to real-world challenges. She will share key insights from her book, followed by a discussion and Q&A with attendees. Learn more at https://www.thedisengagedteen.com/.
Winthrop is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution and the author of several books on education. Her research focuses on global education, with particular attention to the skills young people need to thrive in work, life and civic engagement.
She currently leads the Brookings Global Task Force on AI in Education and co-leads the Family Engagement in Education Network. Previously, she served as chair of the U.N. secretary-general's Global Education First Initiative Technical Advisory Group, helping to shape an education vision centered on access, quality and global citizenship.
More information on Rebecca Winthrop:
https://www.brookings.edu/people/rebecca-winthrop/
Space is limited, and registration is required. Register Now to secure your spot.
Registration closes Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Special Offer: The first 100 registered attendees will receive a signed copy of "The Disengaged Teen."
January 2026 Electronic ISAC Update
Sent on February 2, 2026.
The January 2026 edition of the ISAC Update 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 version of the electronic ISAC Update is a compilation of e-Messages sent to financial aid administrators and business officers via ISAC's e-Messaging service over the past month.
Topics covered in the January 2026 ISAC Update include:
- Limited Release of 2025-26 MAP Suspense
(sent January 30, 2026) - 2025-26 MAP Late Claims Update
(sent January 29, 2026) - Teacher Program Enrollment Verification Update
(sent January 21, 2026) - Submit 2025-26 Claims and Benefit Usage Data for Second Term
(sent January 16, 2026) - ISAC Monthly Webinars for FAAs
(sent January 14, 2026) - Register Now! 2026 Success Network Conference: February 26, 2026
(sent January 14, 2026) - Spread the News About the Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program
(sent January 13, 2026) - ISAC Accepting 2025-26 MAP Second-Term Claims
(sent January 5, 2026) - December 2025 Electronic ISAC Update
(sent January 2, 2026)
