ISAC Student PortalSchool and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program
(last updated August 1, 2023)
The number of awards made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.
Program News
Program Overview
Eligibility Requirements
Application Procedures
Award Determination and Payment
Program News
Fiscal Year 2024
The 2024 fiscal year (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) lump-sum appropriation for the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship programs is $6,000,000.
The 2023-24 School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program application is available to download and print from this website.
Program Overview
{ISAC Rules, Part 2748}
To encourage Illinois students to work, and to continue to work, as social workers in public school districts and Illinois municipalities, the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program provides assistance toward the repayment of student loans. The program is intended to assist in paying eligible loans as an incentive to participate in the social work field, particularly by minority applicants, who are underrepresented as school and municipal social workers. A one-time award of up to $6,500 is available.
Eligibility Requirements
{ISAC Rules, Part 2748.20}
In order to qualify for the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program, applicants must:
- be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (FSA Handbook Volume 1, Chapter 2) or meet the "undocumented student" criteria of the RISE Act
- be an Illinois resident
- have an outstanding balance due on an eligible educational loan (includes Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, consolidation loans, Supplemental Loans for Students, alternative loans, and other types of government and institutional loans used for education expenses)
- be an individual holding a degree in social work who is currently employed, and was so employed, for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date of application (for example: "August 2, 2022 – August 1, 2023”) by:
- an Illinois public elementary school,
- an Illinois public secondary school, or
- a city, village, or incorporated town in the state of Illinois, excluding social workers employed by police departments.
- not be in default on any federal guaranteed educational loan, nor owe a refund on any scholarship or grant program administered by ISAC
Application Procedures
{ISAC Rules, Part 2748.30}
The School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program application is available to print from this website. Applicants must complete all sections of the application and include the required documentation listed in Section 3. Additionally, an authorized official of the applicant's place of employment is required to complete Section 4 of the application, certifying the employment requirements have been met. The address to which the application is to be submitted is indicated on the form.
If an application is incomplete (including required documentation), the applicant will receive a letter from ISAC explaining the reason(s) and advising how to resolve the issue. Qualified applicants will be sent a Notice of Eligibility from ISAC.
Award Determination and Payment
{ISAC Rules, Part 2748.30}
Recipients are selected from among qualified new applicants, with priority given to minority applicants. The total number of awards each year is contingent upon available funding. If funding in any given year is insufficient to pay all eligible applicants, awarding will be based on the date the complete application (with all required documentation) is received at ISAC's Deerfield office.
Award amounts are based on the applicant's remaining balance on eligible education loans, not to exceed $6,500. Proceeds will be remitted directly from the State of Illinois Comptroller's Office to the holder/servicer/lender of the loan(s) to be repaid.
