Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program

SETTW Program awards are not subject to annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.  

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program: Part 2765 - Administrative Rules 

Please review the eligibility, how to apply, dates and timelines, award amounts, and definitions sections for additional program information.

2026-27

ISAC is reviewing applications for the SETTW Program in the 2026-27 academic year submitted by March 1, 2026 for priority consideration. Applications submitted after March 1 will be considered if awards are still available after applicants who met the deadline have been given the tuition waiver. Applicants will be notified of their eligibility for the waiver by July 1. 

2026-27

March 1, 2026 was the priority application consideration date for the 2026-27 academic year. ISAC will consider applications submitted after March 1 only if additional waivers are available after timely applicants have been awarded. 

ISAC is still processing applications for the 2026-27 academic year, so student data for 2026-27 SETTW applications are not available in the SETTW system. Data will appear in the SETTW system when the certification functionality in the GAP access portal on our website becomes available later this year. 

ISAC will notify colleges through email when the SETTW system is open and provide you with instructions to certify that applicants are eligible to receive the tuition waiver.  Certification needs to be completed within 60 days of receiving notification from ISAC. See the USER GUIDE for more information. 

ISAC awards 250 Illinois Special Education Tuition Waivers each year. 

• A maximum of 40 tuition waivers are given to current teachers who are not licensed in special education. If more than 40 applicants qualify, ISAC uses a lottery to select 40 recipients. If fewer than 40 applicants qualify, the remaining waivers are awarded to high school graduates of the current year.
• A minimum of 105 tuition waivers are awarded to applicants who graduated from high school the academic year before the award is given. If more than 105 applicants qualify, ISAC uses a lottery to select 105 recipients.
• A minimum of 105 waivers are awarded to applicants who graduated from high school in the top half of their class the year the award is given.  If more than 105 applicants qualify, ISAC uses a lottery to select 105 recipients.

A Notice of Eligibility will be sent out to applicants about the tuition waiver by July 1. ISAC will then ask for verification of enrollment and program eligibility from the applicants’ colleges. Any applicants who receive the tuition waiver are responsible for providing a copy of the Notice of Eligibility to their college.

• SETTW User Guide 
• Administrative Rules
• GAP Access Processes
• Assigning an Administrator in GAP Access
• Studentaid.gov page defining eligible noncitizen
• ISAC Rise Act
• Payment Offset and Reconciliation
• Refunds and Unpaid Claims