REPORT DIGEST

OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER –

COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM

FINANCIAL AUDIT

For the Year Ended: June 30, 2011

Release Date: March 20, 2012

Summary of Findings:

Total this audit: 0

Total last audit: 0

Repeated from last audit: 0

State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND, AUDITOR GENERAL

To obtain a copy of the Report contact:

Office of the Auditor General, Iles Park Plaza, 740 E. Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703

(217) 782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887

This Report Digest and Full Report are also available on the worldwide web at www.auditor.illinois.gov

____________________________

INTRODUCTION

The College Savings Program (Program) was established in March 2000 pursuant to P.A. 91-0607 which authorizes the State Treasurer to establish and administer a “qualified state tuition program” under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Participants of the Program have a choice of two Section 529 investment programs, the Bright Start College Savings Program, which commenced operations on March 27, 2000, and the Bright Directions College Savings Program, which commenced operations on November 18, 2005. The State Treasurer selected an investment firm (Manager), one for Bright Start and one for Bright Directions, to advise the office on the investment of the Trust assets, to administer the Trust assets, and to provide other services relating to the Program. As such, the Managers act as agents of the Treasurer, and as trustees of the Trust. The Treasurer, however, retains ultimate authority to manage the investments of the Trust.

To administer the Program, the Treasurer has established a division entitled “The College Savings Program Division”. The revenues and expenditures of the Division are recorded in a fund maintained by the Treasurer entitled College Savings Program Administrative Trust Fund, which is classified as en enterprise fund. The administrative expenses paid out of this fund were $1,204,368 in FY11 and $1,047,634 in FY10.

An investment trust fund was used to account for assets held by the Program in a trustee capacity or as agent for individuals throughout the United States. At June 30, 2011, assets in this fund totaled $4,132,710,256.

AUDITORS’ OPINION

Our special assistant auditors stated that the College Savings Program financial statements, as of and for the year ended June 30, 2011 are fairly stated in all material respects.

WILLIAM G. HOLLAND

Auditor General

WGH:JC

SPECIAL ASSISTANT AUDITORS

Our special assistant auditors for this audit were McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.