A bill on Gov. Quinn's desk could set the stage for Illinois colleges to let students attend without paying tuition or taking on student loans.
The bill would task the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to study a "Pay it forward" program, similar to proposals in Oregon, Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
State Sen. Mike Frerichs (D-Champaign) described the bill as "self-sustaining" and said it would "allow students to pay off their college education without having set loans or set payments."
"If we have a whole generation of students coming out and not establishing themselves and not starting families, that's a brake on our economy," Frerichs said.
Here's how things could shake out.
How would a "Pay it Forward" plan work?
Proposals vary-there are several states with "Pay it Forward" bills in various stages of the legislative process, according to the National Association for College Admissions Counseling. The general idea is that students would not have to pay for college up front or take out student loans. Instead, they would sign a contract promising to pay back a certain percentage of their post-graduate income for a set number of years.
Would this apply to private schools as well, or just public universities?
The program would apply to public universities, though Frerichs said if it is successful, private colleges may decide to implement similar programs.
So, is this actually going to happen?
Right now, the bill has passed both houses of the General Assembly, but has not yet been signed by Gov. Quinn. "That bill is currently under review for a decision on whether we will sign it," Quinn spokesman David Blanchette said.
Will the program automatically start if Quinn signs it?
No. If signed into law, the bill would task the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to study the issue and present a report by December. Frerichs and others originally wanted the bill to create a "Pay it Forward" pilot program, but it was amended due to budget concerns.
mcrepeau@tribune.com | @crepeau
