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MAKING
ILLINOIS’ TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS PERMANENT WILL LET MORE STUDENTS EXCEL
Illinois Policy Institute/
Ann Miller
When Nicole Sniff was told by her son
Drake’s public school teachers that he needed to be medicated for
behavioral issues or he would face a life of drugs and alcohol, she left
in tears.
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 Nicole refused to believe medication was the only option to improve Drake’s
education. So she and her husband enrolled five of their six children at Calvary
Christian Academy in Normal, Illinois.
“The very first parent-teacher conference we went to, the teacher looked at me
and she said, ‘He has so much potential. I see it. I believe in it. And we’re
going to get him the resources that he needs.’ In that moment, I knew that
Calvary was exactly where he’s supposed to be.”
The Sniff family is not alone. Thousands of families each year find themselves
looking for better educational opportunities for their children, especially when
the youngsters do not thrive in public schools. Through the Invest in Kids Tax
Credit Scholarship Program, moms like Nicole can afford to send their children
to schools which best fit their educational needs.
Here’s how it works: the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which
passed in 2017, allows individuals and corporations to donate money for private
school scholarships and receive a tax credit of 75 cents for every $1 donated.
Scholarship money is awarded to families whose income does not exceed 300% of
the federal poverty level: a family of four earning $73,800 or less would
qualify.
It was a very similar story for Bose Clodfelter’s sons, Jordan and Aiden. Public
school didn’t give them the attention they are now getting, thanks to a
scholarship to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School in Joliet, Illinois.
“I think that it’s very important for people to have the ability to donate to
the tax credit scholarship program because they care about the educational needs
of the community and that people have the choice and a right to get the
education that they want for their children,” Clodfelter said.
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This year, Pritzker tried and failed to reduce the
current 75% tax credit to 40%, which he said would have gained $14
million in general revenue funds. But the loss would be to
low-income families and students who depend upon tax credit
scholarships for their education. Instead, state lawmakers saved and
extended the program through 2023.
State lawmakers in veto session have an opportunity
to make the scholarships permanent. And the children they help are
some of their more vulnerable constituents.
Empower Illinois reported the average annual household income of
participants is $38,000, and 49% of participating students are Black
or Hispanic.
Thankfully, lawmakers bought time by extending the Invest in Kids
program by a year, but making it permanent would invest in
life-changing educational support for students.
“Calvary’s reading specialist helped diagnose both of my middle sons
with learning disabilities, and we’re getting them the resources
they need. And it has been such a gift to be there. No one has
mentioned medication and Drake has never had a behavior problem
since we put him in Calvary. And without the Tax Credit Scholarship
that wouldn’t have been possible,” Sniff said.
Parents deserve the chance to give their kids the best education.
Kids deserve the chance to have their specific needs met, supported
and to thrive – even if that isn’t in the public school system.
Lawmakers have the power to support students, families, and
communities by making Tax Credit Scholarships a permanent fixture in
Illinois and securing educational opportunities for generations to
come. |
