Processing Update for 2026-27 State Scholars (Impacting High School Graduating Class of 2026)

09/24/2025

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

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:

  1. if your school ranks, unweighted rankings should be provided;
  2. if your school does not rank, unweighted grade point averages (GPAs) must be provided;
  3. weighted rankings and GPAs cannot be accepted; and,
  4. 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.

Early Announcement Processing

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.

Corrections

  • 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:

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.

Illinois State Scholar Badges

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)."

Appeals

  • 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.

You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through one or more subscription groups for Counselors.

If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or calling 866.247.2172.