ISAC Communiqué

Volume 36, Number 4C
October 2026

Messages sent to:	Multiple Subscription Groups
	ISAC Communiqué

Welcome to the October 2026 ISAC Communiqué, which is a compilation of e-Messages sent through ISAC's e-Messaging service throughout October.

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.

MULTIPLE SUBSCRIPTION GROUPS

Early Bird Registration Open for 14th Annual Success Network Conference
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Community Organizations, and Public Libraries on October 23, 2026

Please join us at the 14th annual Illinois Education and Career Success Network (Success Network) conference – Beyond Attainment: Aligning Education to Economic Opportunity – on Tuesday, March 2, 2027. The one-day event will be hosted at Northern Illinois University's Naperville Conference Center.

The Success Network's annual conference is designed for a diverse group of stakeholders committed to enhancing equitable postsecondary attainment across Illinois. This includes leaders from secondary and postsecondary education, local and state government, community-based organizations, policymakers and advocates, grantmakers, employers, and workforce development. The conference serves as an engaging learning opportunity where attendees collaborate to share best practices, explore innovative strategies, and discuss systemic challenges affecting students, particularly those from marginalized communities. Participants can expect a dynamic environment that fosters networking, knowledge exchange, and actionable insights aimed at driving systemic change to support student success throughout Illinois.

Early Bird Pricing: Learn more and register now for early bird pricing – available now through December 31, 2026, or until the first 100 tickets are sold (whichever comes first). Advance registration is required; walk-up registration is not available.

The Illinois Education and Career Success Network (formerly the Illinois 60 by 2025 Network) is a growing network of communities in Illinois that are committed to advancing equitable postsecondary attainment. The Success Network was launched and is organized by: Advance Illinois, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems), and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

Thinking About Providing Electronic Transcript Service? Make the Switch from Paper to Electronic, It's Easy! Let ISAC Provide It for Free!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, and Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants on October 22, 2026.

Don't forget to register and join ISAC for a webinar
to hear about this great opportunity!

The ISAC Transcript Exchange is available and has been free to all
Illinois public and private high schools since 2011!

The ISAC Transcript Exchange, powered by Parchment, provides the opportunity for high school students to request their transcripts and other credentials be sent electronically to the college(s) of their choice, the Common App, and other organizations requesting transcripts (e.g., scholarship providers and third-party verifications).

The ISAC Transcript Exchange – Parchment Preview

Join us on Tuesday, October 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. (CT) to learn about the ISAC Transcript Exchange, how to navigate the student and administrator dashboards, and gain efficiencies by switching from paper to electronic transcripts. Attendees will hear directly from professionals on how the ISAC Transcript Exchange can make a difference at your school. A Parchment Account Executive will provide an overview and be available to answer questions.

To register, visit the Upcoming Professional Development Offerings page

For questions on ISAC's Transcript Exchange, contact [email protected].

Note: ISAC will not offer Continuing Education credits or Professional Development hours for this webinar.

Processing Update for 2027-28 State Scholars (Impacting High School Graduating Class of 2027)
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators and High School Counselors/Teachers on October 21, 2026.

This message provides processing updates about the State Scholar Program (SSP).

Submit Sixth Semester Data by November 20

If your high school's sixth semester data has already been successfully submitted (i.e., file status is "Validated"), go to the Data Processing Has Begun section, below.

If your high school has not submitted sixth semester data, please do so as soon as possible to ensure your students are included when 2027-28 State Scholars are named. The final date on which data will be accepted is Friday, November 20, 2026.

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.

Upload Data via Excel Spreadsheet

Refer to the following resources for information about uploading an Excel spreadsheet with your school's data.

May 18, 2026 "High School Data Collection and Processing Has Begun" e-Message
Required Sixth Semester Data
User Guides and Resources (includes User Guide for High School Programs, SSP and OCCA Data Exchange Layout, and SSP and OCCA File Upload Template)

Reminder: Data used to determine 2027-28 State Scholars must be submitted to ISAC by uploading a properly formatted Excel spreadsheet via the SSP/OCCA system within the GAP Access portal. Online processing of individual records is not available this processing cycle.

Data Processing Has Begun

ISAC has begun processing sixth semester data.

State Scholars will be announced through late December 2026.
- We anticipate the first round of announcements to take place before Thanksgiving.
- Once ISAC staff reviews your school's sixth semester data, your students will be considered in the next round of State Scholar announcements.
  - There are no additional steps that the high school must complete.
ISAC will send an email to the high school to indicate when that school's State Scholars have been named.
You may print congratulatory letters and 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.
ISAC anticipates the final announcement of 2027-28 State Scholars to take place in late December 2026.

Corrections

To correct previously submitted data before your high school's State Scholars have been announced, corrections must be made in your school's master student data file (i.e., the file you initially submitted to ISAC).
- Update the applicable student records in the master file and then reupload the entire corrected master file via the SSP/OCCA system.
- Do not upload a file containing only the corrected student records, as this will overwrite the existing data in the system.
After your high school's State Scholars have been announced, corrections to previously submitted data (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 ISAC's Deerfield address.
Requests to reconsider a student's State Scholar status must be submitted as an appeal.
- Appeals will be reviewed beginning in January 2027.

Printing Congratulatory Letters and Certificates of Achievement

State Scholar congratulatory letters and Certificates of Achievement are printed and distributed by the high school.

The documents are available via the SSP/OCCA system as soon as your Scholars are named.
Instructions for downloading and printing congratulatory letters and Certificates of Achievement are provided in the User Guide for High School Programs.

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 before the appeal deadline.
The deadline for 2027-28 State Scholar appeals will be determined, and all appeals will be considered, after the final round of announcements has taken place (anticipated for late December).

Looking Ahead: Final Announcements

A sample press release, which may assist you in announcing State Scholars, will be available at the ISAC website after final announcements are made.
We recommend that high schools wait to publicly announce their Scholars until the sample press release is available.

Reminder: Join ISAC for Financial Aid Applications and Program Updates!
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 October 13, 2026.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) invites college access professionals to attend our FREE half-day trainings on financial aid applications and program updates. Professional Development (PD) and Continuing Education (CE) credits will be available!

View the schedule and register on ISAC's Upcoming Professional Development Offerings page.

Advance registration is highly recommended. Walk-in registration is not guaranteed. Check back often for additional dates and locations.

Thank you to our community college partners for hosting these trainings!

For questions, contact [email protected]

Are You Paying to Send Electronic Transcripts or Want to Provide the Service but You Can't Find Extra in the Budget? Let ISAC Provide it for Free!
Sent to Principals/Superintendents/Administrators, High School Counselors/Teachers, College Admissions Counselors, Illinois Electronic Transcript Exchange High School Participants, and Ilinois Electronic Transcript Exchange College Participants on October 8, 2026.

The ISAC Transcript Exchange is available and has been free to all
Illinois public and private high schools since 2011!
Join ISAC for a webinar to hear about this great opportunity!

The ISAC Transcript Exchange – Parchment Preview

To register, visit the Upcoming Professional Development Offerings page

For questions on ISAC's Transcript Exchange, contact [email protected].

Note: ISAC will not offer Continuing Education credits or Professional Development hours for this webinar.

In-Person FAN Author Event: Artificial Intimacy
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 October 7, 2026.

ISAC is pleased to invite you to a free, in-person event on October 28 with acclaimed author and MIT professor Sherry Turkle as she discusses her new book, Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines.

Turkle is the Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at MIT and the founding director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self. For decades, her research and writing have explored how technology shapes our relationships, conversations, and sense of self. In Artificial Intimacy, Turkle turns her attention to AI chatbot culture and what happens as increasingly human-like machines become sources of companionship, advice, and emotional support. She examines the potential threat these relationships pose to our capacity for attachment, empathy, and caring—and offers a path forward for preserving meaningful human connection in an increasingly AI-driven world.

This timely conversation will be especially relevant for educators, parents, caregivers, counselors, mental health professionals, students, and anyone interested in how artificial intelligence is reshaping our relationships and society.

This event will take place at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (Deerfield) from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, and it will include a Q&A session with the author.

Space is limited, and registration is required. Please register here: Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines.

Venue and Parking Information

There are parking lots on the north and east sides of the building. You can park anywhere, not only in visitor designated spots. Enter the building via the east entrance.

This is a state government building, and all visitors must present valid picture identification upon entry. Take the elevator to the 4th floor where an ISAC staff member will direct you to the event.

Don't Forget – Register for the First Gen Symposium by Oct. 30!
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 October 6, 2026.

Because space is limited, full capacity may be reached before October 30. Registration is $25 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Advance registration is required, and walk-in registration will not be available.

The First Gen Symposium will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Waubonsee Community College. This event brings together educators, counselors, community-based organizations, college-access professionals, and others dedicated to supporting first-generation students on their educational journey. We hope to see you there!

For questions, contact [email protected]

A Survival Guide for Rural School Counselors and Solo Practitioners: A Virtual Event
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 October 1, 2026.

ISAC is pleased to invite you to join us for a virtual author event on October 14 with Franciene Sabens, M.S.Ed., LPC, NCC, as she discusses her new book, A Survival Guide for Rural School Counselors and Solo Practitioners: Practical Strategies Aligned to Professional Standards, Survival Tactics, Tools, Preventive Measures, and Stories from the Field.

In her latest book, Sabens addresses the challenges, responsibilities, and impact of rural school counselors while delivering practical strategies to help navigate these complexities. Written by rural school counselors for school counselors, the book delivers firsthand stories, best practices, and unique insights based on real-life experiences in the field. This is an important book for new and seasoned counselors in rural settings that offers solutions, strategies, and creative approaches to implementing and sustaining comprehensive and impactful school counseling programs.

Please share widely with anyone in your personal and professional networks who may be interested in this event.

The sixty-minute program will take place virtually via Webex at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14. Program participants are eligible to receive continuing education (CE) and professional development (PD) hours at the rate of one per contact hour.

Space is limited, and registration is required. Please register here to secure your spot.

Franciene Sabens, M.S.Ed., LPC, NCC, is a veteran school counselor with over 17 years of experience. Her academic background includes degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and multiple ASCA U specializations. She is a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Ethics Committee and the National Council for the Advancement of Educator Ethics (a special NASDTEC Committee) and serves as a board member for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. In 2014 and 2025, Franciene was named Illinois High School Counselor of the Year; she was also honored by ASCA in 2016 at the White House as the Illinois state representative for the School Counselor of the Year ceremony.

She contributed to the previous and current Developmental Counseling Models for Illinois Schools, co-edited the second edition of the School Career Development Advisor Curriculum for the National Career Development Association, and served on the Illinois advisory committee that created the Illinois PaCE, a recognized statewide postsecondary and career expectations framework. Franciene has also contributed to CNN, NPR, and Voice of America, and is a frequent, well-respected national presenter who is passionate about helping school counselors implement comprehensive school counseling programs that meet students' changing needs and support them in reaching their full potential. Franciene is a member of the National Center for Youth Issues' Speakers Bureau and blogs at SchoolCounselorSpace.blogspot.com.

Special Offer: The first 50 registered attendees will receive a copy of A Survival Guide for Rural School Counselors and Solo Practitioners: Practical Strategies Aligned to Professional Standards, Survival Tactics, Tools, Preventive Measures, and Stories from the Field.

2027-28 FAFSA, Alternative Application, and Important Dates for Counselors
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 October 1, 2026.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to share information which may be helpful to you and/or your college-bound students.

2028-29 ACADEMIC YEAR

By June 30, 2027: High School Juniors Take College Assessment Exams for State Scholar Consideration

Eligibility for the State Scholar Program (SSP) 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 2026-27 school year, only exams taken between August 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 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 2028-29 academic year, will be named Scholars during the fall of 2027). Further details are provided for students at the State Scholar Program page within the Students & Parents area.

2027-28 ACADEMIC YEAR

2027-28 FAFSA and Alternative Application

The 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) cycle – including availability of the online FAFSA for all students – has opened, and the FAFSA Processing System (FPS) is transmitting 2027-28 FAFSA results to colleges. Students (and any contributors, if applicable) who successfully submitted the 2027-28 FAFSA form during the fall 2026 beta testing period do not need to resubmit it.

The 2027-28 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid ("Alternative Application") is also available. The Alternative Application provides a pathway for students who meet the provisions of the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act to apply for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and be considered for other Illinois financial aid programs. For the 2027-28 academic year, eligibility criteria to complete the Alternative Application has changed. Students who are not eligible for federal financial aid, including undocumented students, should complete the Prescreening Questionnaire to determine if they are eligible to complete the application. Data collected in the prescreening questions will be retained by ISAC and will not be shared with colleges. Students with questions or who need assistance may contact ISAC's Student Engagement and Support Services at 800.899.4722 or contact an ISACorps^™ member in their area.

The Financial Aid Planning area has resources to help college-bound students complete the financial aid process.

Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative

All Illinois public high school students are required to complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. See ISAC's Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative page for more information.

Students and/or parents who choose not to complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application may complete the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form. The 2026-27 Nonparticipation Form (used to opt-out of the 2027-28 applications) can be submitted online via the Program Applications & Status Checks page of the ISAC Student Portal. A Student Portal account is required to complete and sign the Nonparticipation Form.

MAP Processing Cycle

At its September 17, 2026 meeting, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission approved a start-up formula for 2027-28 academic year MAP grants. The formula includes the same 4% reduction that was in place for 2026-27 MAP awards, resulting in an effective maximum award of $8,064. Additional details regarding the formula are provided in a September 23, 2026 "2027-28 MAP Start-up Formula Approved" e-Message.

GENERAL INFORMATION

One Click College Admit Opt-in Remains 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 the One Click College Admit site (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.

Professional Development Opportunities

Be sure to attend our free professional development events that are taking place throughout the fall. Choose from several in-person and virtual (webinar) options. Visit the Upcoming Professional Development Offerings page for specific details, including topics, dates, and registration. Send questions to [email protected].

Outreach Resources

Information about outreach programs, as well as the ISACorps^™ and how to connect with your local ISACorps member, is available on our website.

In the Outreach Resources section, you will find additional information on how we can assist you with your school's efforts to provide college-bound students with information about financial aid.

December 3: 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, December 3, 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.

The Commission Meeting Schedule page will soon be updated with information regarding all meetings scheduled in 2027.

Holiday Schedule

ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:

Monday, October 12 – Columbus Day
Tuesday, November 3 – General Election Day
Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26 – Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 27 – Day after Thanksgiving
Friday, December 25 – Christmas
Friday, January 1 – New Year's Day

Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.

Processing Schedules

The GAP Access portal is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – including holidays. Data processing takes place each day between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (CT). Data submitted after 10:00 p.m. will be processed and dated the following business day.

Click on the following link to access holiday processing schedules.

System Availability

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).

Return to Top

ISAC COMMUNIQUÉ

September 2026 ISAC Communiqué

Sent on October 1, 2026.

The September 2026 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 September 2026 ISAC Communiqué include:

Don't Miss Our Upcoming In-Person Trainings!
(sent September 30, 2026)
Last Call to Submit Proposals for the Second Annual First Gen Symposium on Thursday, November 5, 2026
(sent September 28, 2026)
Girlhood, Translated: In-Person FAN Event
(sent September 25, 2026)
Call for Proposals Extended!
(sent September 23, 2026)
2027-28 MAP Start-up Formula Approved
(sent September 23, 2026)
Join ISAC for Financial Aid Applications and Program Updates!
(sent September 22, 2026)
Save the Date: Second Annual First Gen Symposium This Fall 2026
(sent September 18, 2026)
Reminder – Submit Call for Proposals by September 24!
(sent September 15, 2026)
Commission Meeting Thursday, September 17
(sent September 14, 2026)
Save the Date: Second Annual First Gen Symposium This Fall
(sent September 4, 2026)
Join ISAC for our FREE upcoming professional development webinars!
(sent September 4, 2026)
August 2026 ISAC Communiqué
(sent September 1, 2026)

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.

Return to Top