SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois General Assembly did not vote to extend a scholarship program for low-income children.
“Invest in Kids” started as a pilot program in 2018. It provides scholarships to low-income children to go to private schools.
The program receives its funding from taxpayer donations. Those who donate receive an income tax credit of worth 75% of the donation amount.
“Invest in Kids” is scheduled to end this year. Legislators voted in its new state budget to not extend it, which is a complaint from Republican lawmakers.
“Because of the actions of this body, or rather the lack of action over the coming months, thousands of families and kids will be struggling to go to sleep at night and question whether their scholarship, the hope to improve their lives, or if their dreams of a better education have been snuffed out,” says State Representative Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa).
State Representative Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) blamed teachers’ unions for fighting the program.
“Don’t buy their misinformation. The money being donated for these scholarships is not state money, these are private donations. At no point in the history of this program have government schools received one less dime in funding,” Wilhour said.
The program’s future could be brought up again in the fall veto session.
