Illinois colleges get scholarship flexibility with new law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a law expanding a college scholarship program which in part is designed to keep Illinois students in the state.

The Democrat visited Springfield Southeast High School on Thursday. The law allows universities to keep unused AIM HIGH scholarship funds at the end of each fiscal year. He says it will allow them flexibility to target the funds.

Pritzker's proposed annual budget includes a $10 million increase for the $25 million program.

Previously, unused AIM HIGH funds had to be returned to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission before a school could receive a new allocation. Pritzker says retaining money allows a school to reinvest it in the scholarship program or make improvements in its delivery.