As part of his budget address, Governor Bruce Rauner called for a 10% funding increase to MAP Grants yesterday.
This program helps low income Illinoisans pay college tuition. Eric Zarnikow, who’s in charge of the program, says it could accommodate 12,000 more students, or increase the size of the grants. However, it doesn’t pay for current MAP students. ?
"So at this point, for students who went to school in the fall, last fall, and for students who are currently going to school right now in the spring term, they have received zero MAP dollars," he said. "So there has been no funding for MAP for the fiscal year 2017."
Rauner's proposed 10% increase is based on fiscal year 2015. This is the last time Illinois government had a full budget.?
