The ICA Rising Stars program year runs from July 1 in the selection year to June 30 of the following year.

To be chosen as in the ICA's Rising Star program, students must be residents of Illinois, list the USCF as their FIDE federation and meet the following criteria:

• For high school players, have a minimum USCF rating of 1500 as of the JUNE rating supplement of the selection year.

• For players in 8th grade or below, have a minimum USCF rating of 1200 as of the JUNE rating supplement of the selection year.

• For girls, have a minimum USCF rating of 1200 as of the JUNE rating supplement of the selection year.