Students from eligible families can apply to receive an Invest in Kids Act Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship. As a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO), HighSight is approved to accept applications from students who reside in Cook County, Illinois - Region 1.
For 25 years, HighSight has been partnering with private high schools in the Chicago area. We anticipate that most of our Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship funding will be allocated to some of our high school partners. However, eligible applicants for any qualified non-public school in Cook County will be considered.
PRIORITY APPLICANTS
Before April 1, priority will be given to students on a first-come, first-serve basis who:
- received a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization during the previous school year;
- are members of a household whose 2018 federal adjusted gross income did not exceed 185% of the poverty level; or
- are in a "focus district" as defined under the Invest in Kids Act; or
- are siblings of students currently receiving a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization.
All qualifying students will be considered for scholarships on a first-come, first-serve basis from the opening of the application process. See the chart below for more details on household income requirements.
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
An eligible student is a member of a household whose 2018 federal adjusted gross income, as determined by the Illinois Department of Revenue, did not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level and, once the child receives a scholarship, does not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level.
For the 2020-2021 school year, the federal poverty guidelines are:
2018 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Chart
Household members 185% FPL 250% FPL 300% FPL
1 $22,459 $30,350 $36,420
2 $30,451 $41,150 $49,380
3 $38,443 $51,950 $62,340
4 $46,435 $62,750 $75,300
5 $54,427 $73,550 $88,260
6 $62,419 $84,350 $101,220
7 $70,411 $95,150 $114,180
8 $78,403 $105,950 $127,140
In addition, the student must be eligible to attend a public elementary school or high school in Illinois in the semester immediately preceding the semester for which he or she first receives a scholarship, or is starting school in Illinois for the first time when he or she first receives a scholarship. A student must reside in Cook County for SGO HighSight to consider the application.
For purposes of determining eligibility for the 2010-2021 school year, SGOs shall use 2018 federal adjusted gross income. This amount does not include the income of children under 18 attending elementary or secondary school on a full-time basis. Foster children are deemed to have a household income that does not exceed 185% of the federal poverty level. Illinois Tax Credit Scholarships are need based and do not take academic performance into consideration.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Families will be required to provide the following information to SGO HighSight to reserve their spot to complete a full application if needed:
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Current grade
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School you plan to attend in 2020-21
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Parent / Guardian name
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Parent / Guardian email
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Total number of residents in the household
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Total 2018 adjusted gross income of the household
If there are multiple students applying in the household, each student must submit an application.
If information requested on the application reservation form or application is found to be inconsistent, omitted or submitted incorrectly, the scholarship application may be disqualified.
After qualified donations are received, HighSight will begin requesting complete applications and granting scholarships to eligible students allowing them to attend the private school of their choice, subject to availability of funds.
