Ryan's Career Scholarship Proposal Passes House

SPRINGFIELD - Governor George H. Ryan today commended the Illinois House for approving his proposal to give $1,000 scholarships to qualifying students to help them start on a career path.

House Bill 4265 creates the Illinois Career Scholarship Act to establish an Illinois Career Scholarship program. The scholarships will provide high school students not seeking a baccalaureate degree with a financial incentive to pursue alternative post-secondary training opportunities. The bill passed 114 to 0 vote with only one representative voting present.

"We asked the General Assembly to support my Career Scholarship Program because there are students who want and need financial assistance, but can't get it through traditional educational programs," Ryan said. "We must devise a single continuous program for workforce development in Illinois. It starts with elementary and secondary schools and, for some students, it includes vocational education and apprenticeship."

Ryan said the program gives $1,000 grants to any Illinois high school graduate who wants to pursue continuing education, vocational training or on-the-job training in Illinois. The bill provides that the non-renewable award may be applied only toward a program certified by the Illinois Workforce Investment Board or an occupational or vocational program certified by the state.

Chief sponsors of House Bill 4265 are representatives David Wirsing, R-Dekalb; Maggie Crotty, D-Oak Forest; Bill O'Connor, R-Riverside; Mike Bost, R-Carbondale; and Ronald Lawfer, R-Freeport.