Students and families in Illinois are facing significant challenges as the state’s now ten month budget delay has held up funding for higher education, including most funding for the Monetary Award Program (MAP), the state’s largest need-based grant program for college students. Even with passage of a recent stopgap funding measure, there is still significant uncertainty. And that uncertainty has left many students—particularly low-income college students—wondering how they will pay for college if MAP funding is not fully restored. As students look to find other funding to go—or stay—in school, there’s perhaps no more important time to get money-smart. In addition to providing free workshops during Money Smart Week® (April 23-30), the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) offers free financial literacy resources and tools to help students and families learn how to manage their personal finances, and make informed financial choices about colleges, student loans and more. For more information on Money Smart Week events and resources on just about every aspect of personal finances, visit www.moneysmartweek.org. Visit the ISAC Student Portal Financial literacy page at www.isac.org/studentportal-FinancialLiteracy for free tools and resources and to find your local ISACorps member.