ISAC Student PortalSchool Social Work Scholarship
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Program Description
Eligibility
Participating Schools
How to Apply
Changes to Application Data
How Funds Are Disbursed
Processing Updates
Informational Flyer
Effective starting with the 2026-27 academic year, the Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program is also known as the School Social Work Scholarship. This program provides scholarship assistance to licensed social workers (or those pursuing a social work license) who, prior to enrolling in the academic program that this scholarship would support, earn their master's degrees in social work and wish to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in School Social Work. The program was designed to encourage students to work as social workers in Illinois schools. Scholarships may be used at Illinois public universities and private, not-for-profit institutions of higher learning in Illinois that prepare students to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work, and pay tuition and mandatory fee costs (up to the equivalent of the most expensive comparable program of study at an Illinois public university) for each continuous academic year (including summer) recipients meet eligibility requirements. A total of up to 250 scholarships may be awarded each year.
As part of the application process, you must agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the Application/Work Agreement/Promissory Note. By receiving this scholarship, you must work as a social worker in an Illinois school for a period of not less than two years for each year or any portion of a year of scholarship assistance. You must begin employment as a social worker in a qualified Illinois school – a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school – within one year following completion of the program. If this commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount, plus interest.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
- be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
- hold or be pursuing a valid Illinois clinical social work license or social work license
- prior to enrolling in the academic program that this scholarship would support, have obtained a master’s degree in social work from an approved program
- take courses to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in School Social Work
- enroll or be accepted for enrollment, and remain continuously enrolled, on a full- or part-time basis (at least 3 hours), at an Illinois public university or private, not-for-profit institution of higher learning in Illinois that prepare students to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Social Work
- maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by your college
- establish satisfactory repayment arrangements if you are in default on any federal student loan.
Participating Schools
To view a listing of Illinois colleges approved to participate in this program, click on the below link:
- 2026-27
- via email to [email protected]
- via FAX to 847.831.8549
- via letter to ISAC, Program Operations, 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
How to Apply
The School Social Work Scholarship Application/Work Agreement/Promissory Note may be completed and submitted online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal.
Each year, ISAC sets and announces a priority consideration date by which the School Social Work Scholarship Application/Work Agreement/Promissory Note must be completed and submitted. For the 2026-27 academic year, the application priority consideration date is October 31, 2026. Untimely applications (i.e., those received after the priority consideration date) are considered for as long as funding remains available after all timely, qualified applicants have been awarded.
Changes to Application Data
Only one application for this program may be submitted per academic year. Consequently, if you need to change your response(s) to any item(s) and/or update any information after the application has been submitted, you will need to provide the information to ISAC. Examples of items that may need to be updated include demographic information (i.e., name, address, telephone number, etc.), your college of record and the impacted terms (e.g., full year, or fall, winter, spring, or summer). These changes can be submitted to ISAC using one of the below methods, but cannot be done over the telephone.
The request must include the last four digits of your Social Security number (for identification purposes) and clearly state what change(s) need to be made. These changes will not affect the application "received date." In order to allow adequate processing time and prevent a loss of benefits, changes to your college of record should to be reported prior to the beginning of the applicable term(s).
How Funds Are Disbursed
ISAC works with the college to disburse funds for this program. The college certifies student eligibility and then – after the application deadline has passed for each term – submits a payment request on behalf of the student. ISAC processes the payment request and submits the information to the State Comptroller's Office. Dependent on the level of State of Illinois funding at the time of the request, the amount of time it takes for funds to arrive at the college can vary anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Depending on the college, students may be responsible for payment until program funds are received. Qualified applicants who are awaiting receipt of funds from this program should contact the Financial Aid Office or Business Office to determine the college's policy.
Processing Updates
Note that ISAC routinely updates this section as new information becomes available. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status.
For the 2026-27 Academic Year
(last updated on August 7, 2026)
The application for the 2026-27 School Social Work Scholarship is now being accepted.
The priority application consideration date for the 2026-27 academic year is October 31, 2026. Complete applications submitted after that date will be considered for as long as funding remains available after all timely, qualified applicants have been awarded.
Correspondence regarding the status of your application will be mailed to you after the date your application is received at ISAC.
