Illinois Senate Bill SB2250

Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/10/23
• Refer: 2/10/23
• Refer: 2/28/23
• Report Pass: 3/8/23
• Refer: 3/31/23

Caption

COM COL-OUT OF DIST-TUITION

Impact

The implications of SB2250 are significant for both students and community colleges in Illinois. Students will benefit from greater access to educational programs that may not be available in their local institutions. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for a program directory to help students identify which programs are available at different colleges and simplifies the processes related to financial assistance. Community colleges are expected to coordinate effectively to facilitate this cross-district enrollment which may lead to increased collaboration among institutions.

Summary

SB2250 amends the Public Community College Act to facilitate student attendance at community colleges outside of their resident districts. The bill allows students who wish to enroll in programs not offered by their local community college to attend any recognized public community college in another district, paying tuition at the in-district rate of the receiving college. This aims to maximize educational opportunities and resources across community college districts, ensuring students have access to a broader range of programs without financial penalization due to their residency status.

Contention

While the bill is aimed at expanding educational services, there are potential points of contention regarding the financial responsibilities of the community college districts. Questions may arise about how this will affect funding and the distribution of state grants. There may be concerns from local colleges about losing students to other districts which could impact their enrollment numbers and funding. Balancing the needs and resources of various community colleges while ensuring that students receive the education they seek is a challenge that stakeholders will need to navigate.