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The program allows donors to get a 75% income tax credit toward
donations to fund school choice scholarships for qualified
families throughout the state. Scholarship Granting
Organizations are approved to administer the program, which is
set to sunset Jan. 1, 2024. As lawmakers return, parents are
looking for an extension.
Eric Ruiz of Joliet, a parent with students attending a private
school involved in the program, explained his goal of coming to
Springfield.
"We are hoping to get rid of the sunset date and make this a
permanent thing," Ruiz said. "We do not know what the future
holds, so I would like my kids to remain there."
Trip Rodgers, superintendent for Lutheran Schools in central
Illinois, said that students who usually would not get a chance
at private school can with the program.
"Over the last couple of years, we have seen an increase in the
number of students who can attend our school," Rodgers said.
"Many of these students in the past would not have been able to
do it financially."
Anthony Holter, president of the scholarship granting
organization Empower Illinois, said 100% of the scholarships are
based on need, with 70% of recipients having the most financial
need.
"The average household income is $43,000, and these families are
receiving scholarships, again, to attend their best fit private
schools in every community in the state and every legislative
district," Holter told the Illinois House Revenue and Finance
Committee in October.
Opponents of the measure say the tax credit to fund the school
choice program with private donations takes resources away from
the state's public schools. Cynthia Riseman Lund, who
represented the state's public schools teachers' unions,
expressed her opposition to the program during a House Revenue
and Finance Committee meeting last month.
"[The teachers' unions] support elimination of the Invest In
Kids program. It is set to sunset ... and we will call for the
elimination of the program even sooner," Lund said.
Empower Illinois said since 2018, the program has awarded 37,000
scholarships totaling more than $280 million.
Greg Bishop contributed to this report.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a
reporter and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a
producer for the Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan
University and Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south
suburbs of Chicago.
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