(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Illinois is now the first state to offer students at public universities free access to test prep courses.
The Prepare for Illinois' Future Program allows thousands of students attending public universities to access more than 40 test prep courses at no cost.
David Adams called the Prepare for Illinois' Future Program "transformative and revolutionary."
"It's $10 million a year that fills a significant need in helping students as they transition from college to the workforce," Adams said.
Adams is Senior Vice President for test prep company Kaplan, he said the program is live in six schools but is already seeing immediate benefits to students.
"Even after only being up a week, and with those six schools, we've already seen over half a million dollars in out of pocket costs saved by students in just that first week."
Adams said the program will also be beneficial for schools.
"It's designed to make state universities more attractive to students… it's also certainly designed to level the playing field for rural and underrepresented and vulnerable communities as they progress into the workforce or into professional schools like law and medicine and business."
Adams said the program will also help the state at large by helping students pass licensure exams for in-demand careers.
"As this continues into future years, the state will be able to fill shortages in those areas, like nursing, teaching, as students enter these critical careers using the program."
Western Illinois University Vice President Justin Scuch said the goal is ultimately to remove barriers to success.
"It really is making sure that students never question if they're going to have the resources and support to explore whatever they're interested in going into they never really should doubt can they be successful in something."
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