Private school scholarships for low-income students will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis, and the application process is set to open at the end of this month. At least one private school official says he wishes that launch date were delayed to give schools more time to educate staff and the parent community about the process.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 people attended a meeting at the I-Hotel in Champaign to learn more about a possible new private high school.  Organizers say that Academy High would hold classes in the University of Illinois Research Park starting with the 2017-18 school year.