2025-26 Payment Updates and Reminders

03/23/2026

Links in this message are to corresponding pages at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) website (isac.org).

As of Monday, March 23, 2026, the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal is available for submission of third-term payment requests (claims). Colleges are encouraged to submit 2025-26 claims as soon as possible.

You may scroll through this message, or click on a link to go to a specific section.

Monetary Award Program (MAP)

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program

Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional (PFC) Officers (second and third term payment now open)

Nursing Education Scholarship (NES)

Reminders for Submitting Claims

MAP

Third-Term Claims Now Being Accepted; Due May 8

ISAC is accepting 2025-26 MAP third-term claims.

The 2025-26 MAP claim deadline for the third term is Friday, May 8, 2026.

Second-Term Claims Due March 27

As originally announced in January, the 2025-26 MAP claim deadline for the second term is Friday, March 27, 2026. Initial claims and upward adjustment amounts submitted for the second term after the March 27^th deadline date will be held as late, to be considered for payment later in the year.

ECACE

• ISAC is accepting 2025-26 ECACE Scholarship claims for the second and third term.
  • The second-term ECACE priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 30, 2026
  • The third-term ECACE priority claim deadline date is Monday, May 8, 2026
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2025 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay ECACE first-term claims through May 8, 2026.

As reminder, ECACE scholarship funds are awarded to students at the start of the academic year. The program’s flexibility allows students to use funds throughout the year; however, ISAC may release funds from students who have not enrolled or will not use their full award in order to reallocate those funds to other eligible students. This provides an opportunity for additional students to receive an ECACE scholarship.

To help maximize available funding for students:

• All schools are asked to submit second-term ECACE claims by the March 30 deadline. If you are aware that a student is not enrolled or will not use their funds, please prioritize submitting claims for those students.
• ISAC will begin releasing funds from students who will not use their awards around the first week of April.
• Released funds will be re-awarded to eligible students who were not initially funded due to limited program resources.

Additionally, ISAC plans to conduct another release and re-award of funds in late April, closer to the third-term claim deadline.

Thank you for your partnership. Timely claim submission is critical to ensuring we can redistribute unused funds and serve as many students as possible.

More information regarding ECACE payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

• ECACE Electronic Processing (including the ECACE User Guide)
• ECACE Payment

Golden Apple Scholars

• ISAC is accepting 2025-26 Golden Apple claims for the second and third term.
  • The second-term Golden Apple priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 30, 2026
  • The third-term Golden Apple priority claim deadline date is Monday, May 8, 2026
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2025 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay Golden Apple first-term claims through May 8, 2026.

More information regarding Golden Apple payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

• Golden Apple Electronic Processing (including the Golden Apple User Guide)
• Golden Apple Payment

PFC

Second and third-term payment is now open.

• ISAC is accepting 2025-26 PFC claims for the second and third term.
  • The second-term PFC priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 30, 2026
  • The third-term PFC priority claim deadline date is Monday, May 8, 2026
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of January 23, 2026 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay PFC first-term claims through May 8, 2026.

More information regarding PFC payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

• PFC Electronic Processing (including the PFC User Guide)
• PFC Payment

NES

• ISAC is accepting 2025-26 NES claims for the second and third term.
  • The second-term NES priority claim deadline date is Monday, March 30, 2026
  • The third-term NES priority claim deadline date is Monday, May 8, 2026
  • Even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2025 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay NES first-term claims through May 8, 2026.

More information regarding NES payment functionality, including detailed instructions, is available at the following locations:

• NES Electronic Processing (including the NES User Guide)
• NES Payment

Reminders for Submitting Claims

• Colleges are always encouraged to submit claims as soon as they are able to do so.
  • Regularly check the "Payment List" for each program's system (within the GAP Access portal) to identify newly-added records that are available for payment.
  • The timely submission of claims and cancellations/adjustments allows ISAC staff to monitor remaining funds and award other students, as applicable.
• By submitting a claim for an ISAC-administered gift assistance program, the institution is confirming that the student is enrolled and continues to meet all eligibility requirements for the program.
  • If not submitting a claim, the institution reports the reason for the student's ineligibility.
• Submitting claims is a two-step process, which involves generating the request and then submitting the request.
• Payment results are available via the program's electronic system in GAP Access on a daily basis.
  • Colleges are encouraged to always review the Payment Results/Exceptions report, which is available the day after claims are processed.
• The disbursement of funds is processed by the State Comptroller's Office.
  • Refer to the State Comptroller's Website page, located within the Processes section of the Financial Aid Administrators area, for information on how to track payment.
  • Refer to each program's "Payment" area to view information regarding a report for tracking payment vouchers and warrants.
• Because Payment Offset and Reconciliation procedures apply to each of the programs referenced above, refund checks should not be sent for cancellations/adjustments made throughout the award year.
  • Funds should only be returned to ISAC after a final reconciliation has been completed at the end of the regular school year.

Watch for Future Updates

Future program updates will be shared with colleges via ISAC's standard methods of communication, including: the "Program News" area for each program; the FAA Message Board; and, ISAC's e-Messaging service.

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

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