Backers Say Ending Invest in Kids Program Would Have "Negative Outcome" for 9,500 Kids
Students arrive at Locke Elementary in Chicago's Montclare neighborhood in 2022. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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Supporters of a state authorized program to provide scholarships to low-income students to attend private schools have been making the rounds this week in a desperate attempt to convince the General Assembly to renew the program before it expires at the end of the year.
The Invest in Kids program, which was enacted in 2017, allows $75 million to be donated by businesses and individuals and distributed across the state. Though, the majority of scholarships are in Cook County.
The initiative is scheduled to expire at the end of the year, and supporters were desperate to convince the legislature to extend the program before the General Assembly adjourned for the summer so as to not cause any questions for families at the start of the school year.
Without action during the fall veto session, the program will expire, potentially forcing thousands of children to switch schools in the middle of the school year.
Empower Illinois is one of seven “scholarship granting organizations” in the state. Empower President Anthony Holter says allowing the program to lapse January 1st puts the education of 9,500 kids in jeopardy.
“Quite simply, it's the most drastic negative outcome possible. It means the program ends, and the students who have received scholarships, 9,500 of them last year and likely more than that this year, will be left in the lurch,” Holter said. “It would have an incredibly negative impact for kids and families who rely on this right now. And then the hopes and dreams of tens of thousands more evaporate. Those tens of thousands more are kids who are on the wait list right now hoping for a scholarship. And so it is that clear, it is that stark.”
Some 25,000 families are already on a wait list for the program.
Democrats and their teachers union backers have been vehement in their opposition to the program.
We reached out to both of the state’s largest teachers unions, the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, for comment. Neither responded to our inquiry Thursday.
But Cassie Creswell, director of Illinois Families for Public Schools, told the Chicago Sun-Times this week there is no data reported by the Illinois State Board of Education to compare the standardized test scores of students in private schools versus those in public schools.
“Public funds are for public schools that serve everyone,” Creswell said. “And there’s really just not the same sort of overview and accountability and regulation of these schools, even though they’re getting millions of public dollars.”
Advocates are quick to remind that there are no public dollars used in the program and the state doesn’t administer the scholarships. The “scholarship granting organizations” collect tax-deductible donations (up to 75%) and hand out the program dollars.
Holter points out public school funding has increased since the Invest in Kids program went into effect.
“Since [the program was enacted], there's been $2 billion more dollars invested in public schools in the state, at the same time about $330 million has been raised for tax credit scholarships,” Holter said. “We would agree that in many cases and in many places, public schools need more investment and need more funding. Last year, the number of credits that were issued, just over 50 million, is less than one-tenth of 1% of the state budget. I would just pose it that I think that number is something that lawmakers and citizens alike could agree that is a worthwhile investment.”
Supporters also point out that the vast majority of students receiving the scholarships are Black and Latino.
“At the end of the day, it's going to kids and families who, based on income, have limited choices that many other people enjoy,” Holter said. “This is just one very important and powerful way to help get them access to a great good school and a life-changing education.”
Governor Pritzker has publicly softened his position on the program since his election in 2018, saying this summer he would sign an authorization if it got to his desk.
But getting it there with Democratic supermajorities appears to be the biggest challenge.