Dear families,
 
Empower Illinois Application Date Reminder - Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 31st at 12:00 p.m. (noon)
The tax credit scholarship application process with Empower Illinois opens tomorrow, Wednesday, January 31, at 12:00 p.m.(noon) and will be completed online at  www.empowerillinois.org/students.
 
Empower Illinois' TCS application differs from Big Shoulders Fund's TCS application specifically:

• 1040 Form:  Empower Illinois requires that families submit pages 1 AND 2 (Big Shoulders Fund only required page 1).
• Birth Certificate:  Empower Illinois requires a birth certificate for Kindergarten and 1st graders (Big Shoulders Fund did not require a birth certificate).
• If a families 2016 1040 is not available, or a families income dropped in 2017, Empower Illinois will accept documentation of SNAP as verification of eligibility.

Empower Illinois has posted a video on its website and social media channels on how to apply.  The video is available in English and Spanish.

Important Note:  The recommended web browsers to use in completing the Empower Illinois online application are Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.
 
We are available at St. Bede School to help with this process tomorrow, Wednesday, January 31.  Please call for an appointment.  Families should feel free to apply for scholarships on their own.  Again, if you need support applying or scanning documents, you should contact us and we will be happy to help--please call for an appointment--847-587-5541.