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Homeschool benefits and savings in Elgin

The City of Elgin Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund pays up to $125 per child toward City of Elgin Parks and Recreation programs. Children ages 5-17 who live in Elgin city limits qualify with proof of financial need, and school type does not matter. Other options include college classes and scholarships.

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Elgin Youth Scholarship Fund

Who qualifies

  1. Is 5 to 17 years old

    The fund is for youth ages 5 to 17. The application asks nothing about school, so a homeschooled child qualifies the same way as any other child.

  2. Lives in Elgin city limits

    Show a valid Illinois driver's license or Illinois State ID. The parent or guardian and the child must live in the same household.

  3. Shows financial need

    Upload this year's tax return or a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefit letter. The city posts examples of documents it accepts.

What it is worth

The city pays a maximum of $125 per qualified youth toward Parks and Recreation program fees.

One qualifying child
Up to $125
Two qualifying children
Up to $250
Three qualifying children
Up to $375
Program fees above $125 per child
You pay
Unused balance after December 30
Expires

Funds are limited and awarded first come, first served, so apply before you register for the program you want.

How to apply

  1. Before you apply

    Gather documents

    Have your Illinois driver's license or State ID and a current-year tax return or TANF benefit letter ready to upload.

  2. While funds last

    Apply online

    Complete the 2026 application in English or Spanish, upload both documents, then sign and submit it.

  3. Within 2 weeks

    Watch for the email

    If no email arrives within two weeks, check your spam or junk folder, then call the fund line.

  4. By December 30

    Use the scholarship

    Apply the award to City of Elgin recreation programs before it expires on December 30.

What it pays for

Covered

Not covered

Funds are limited and given first come, first served; the city posts on the fund page when money runs out.

Who to contact

The Parks and Recreation Department runs the fund and answers questions about applications and eligible programs.

rysf@cityofelgin.org 847-931-6123 Youth Scholarship Fund page

Elgin Community College homeschool trustee scholarships

Who qualifies

  1. Submits an ACT score

    Homeschooled students are judged on ACT scores instead of class rank: a composite of at least 26 for Top 10 Percent and at least 24 for Top 20 Percent.

  2. Lives in District 509

    Your student must live in the ECC district for at least 30 days before the first term the award pays for, and stay in the district for the whole scholarship period.

  3. Starts right after graduating

    Your student enrolls at ECC as a freshman in the fall or spring semester immediately after high school graduation.

  4. Enrolls full time in a degree

    At least 12 credit hours a term, accepted into an associate degree program unless a vocational certificate is the only option. Non-credit courses do not count.

What it is worth

ECC charges in-district students $148 per credit hour from summer 2026, and its trustee scholarship procedure sets the award amounts.

Full-time term tuition (12 hours)
$1,776
Full-time year tuition (24 hours)
$3,552
Top 10 Percent award, one year
$2,000
Top 20 Percent award, one year
$1,000
Top 10 Percent award, two years
$4,000
Top 20 Percent award, two years
$2,000

Tuition alone for a full-time year is more than either award, and course and lab fees vary by class, so ask Financial Aid how the award is split across tuition, fees, and books each term.

From applying to keeping it

  1. Senior year

    Take the ACT

    Get an ACT composite of 26 or higher for Top 10 Percent, or 24 or higher for Top 20 Percent, and send the scores to ECC.

  2. Before you enroll

    Submit the paper application

    ECC requires a paper application, a one-page personal statement on educational plans, career goals, and community involvement, and transcripts. Incomplete applications are not processed.

  3. Before the award

    Send the final transcript

    A final transcript showing the graduation date must be on file before the award is made, and your student attends new student orientation.

  4. Each term

    Complete scholar activities

    Top 10 Percent scholars complete ten leadership and service activities a semester and Top 20 Percent scholars complete five, through the Academic Scholars Program.

  5. Year two

    Keep a 3.0 GPA

    Stay at 12 or more credit hours each fall and spring with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Second-year students confirm eligibility instead of reapplying.

What it pays for

Covered

Not covered

The trustee procedure says the award goes toward tuition, fees, and books, up to the yearly amount.

Good to know

Who to contact

Financial Aid and Scholarships in Building B, Room B156, handles trustee scholarship applications and questions about homeschool ACT scores.

financialaid@elgin.edu 847-214-7360 Contact form

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Illinois

You do not have to file a homeschool notice.

Illinois sets these rules:

Read the Illinois homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Illinois

Questions parents ask

Can a homeschooled child get the Elgin youth scholarship?
Yes. The fund looks at age, Elgin residency, and financial need. It does not ask where or how your child goes to school.
What counts as proof of financial need for the Elgin scholarship?
The city links a list of financial need examples on the fund page.

Turn support into your child’s next lesson

Camps and local activities give your child new interests to explore. Their discoveries can shape the examples and questions they study at home.

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$149/month per child after the trial.

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