For schools and districts · Illinois

Funding Test Prep America in Illinois

Illinois schools can start with district-controlled state formula funding and a place-based private partnership lead.

This page focuses on Illinois Evidence-Based Funding as a district budget-alignment conversation and CME Group Foundation as a place-based private lead. No general Illinois state grant for direct external SAT/ACT preparation was identified in this review.

Talk With Test Prep America Request Funding Documentation

Illinois funding pathways

Start with the state-specific options your team can verify.

This page intentionally focuses on Illinois-specific funding and partnership leads—not every federal program that passes through the state. Review the official source, then confirm the current award, plan, eligibility, and purchasing rules with the responsible local partner.

**No general Illinois state grant for direct external SAT/ACT prep identified.** EBF is district-controlled formula funding; the private lead is place-based.

Illinois funding pathways

Start with the options that fit.

Each entry is a Illinois-specific funding or partnership lead. Start with the eligibility lines and official source, then confirm the local process.

Funding check: No general Illinois state grant for direct external SAT/ACT prep identified. EBF is district-controlled formula funding; the private lead is place-based.

State funding pathway

Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) district budget alignment

Illinois Evidence-Based Funding is the state's primary formula for distributing general state aid to school districts. It directs more resources toward districts with greater evidence-based adequacy needs, but it is not a competitive grant or a vendor entitlement.

A district may decide to use local EBF-supported resources for an academic or college-readiness priority when the work fits its improvement plan, budget, and local purchasing rules. The district—not ISBE and not TPA—determines the final allocation and allowability.

Official source

Read the official source

How Test Prep America may support the requirements

District budget planning
Documented academic or college-readiness priority
Student-need and outcome rationale
District-controlled purchasing
School improvement and resource-allocation conversations

Your school may be a good fit if…

The district identifies a college-readiness or academic need in its local planning.
The proposed service fits the district's adopted budget and improvement priorities.
The district can document the student group, objective, and expected outcomes.
EBF does not guarantee a school or vendor a dedicated award; local approval is required.

Private and community leads

When state funding is not a direct fit.

These are private or place-based opportunities worth investigating with an eligible school, district, nonprofit, or community partner. They are not state appropriations, and inclusion here does not imply eligibility, endorsement, or award likelihood.

Community / private funding lead

CME Group Foundation education and career-readiness grants

The CME Group Foundation supports direct-service nonprofits working with Chicago students from low-income communities in finance and technology, including work that improves postsecondary degree, certification, and career outcomes. Its published K–12 recipients include substantial multi-year awards for STEM and after-school programs.

This is a place-based private partnership lead, not a statewide Illinois grant and not a direct TPA entitlement. A qualified nonprofit, university, or school-community partner would need to lead the request and show a strong fit with the Foundation's current priorities.

Official source

Read the official source

How Test Prep America may support the requirements

Low-income student postsecondary readiness
Finance or technology education
Career-development and transition support
Nonprofit or higher-education partnership
Multi-year program outcomes

Your school may be a good fit if…

An eligible direct-service nonprofit or qualified partner leads the request.
The work serves Chicago students from low-income communities.
The project advances postsecondary, certification, or career outcomes.
The partner confirms the current invitation, cycle, and geographic priorities.

Back to all funding options

A cleaner path starts with a conversation

Not sure which funding source fits?

We’ll help you organize the program, the student need, and the documentation your school team can review.

Talk With Test Prep America Request Funding Documentation