Idaho giving students access to federal scholarships; Illinois should join

The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of school choice tax credits. Yet Illinois continues to lag the nation with no form of school choice.

Idaho is now among most states providing educational options for students, while Illinois remains an outlier.

30 states and the District of Columbia have at least one private school choice program, according to an analysis from Education Week. Those private school choice programs are either educational saving accounts, vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, tax-credit educational savings accounts or direct tax credits.

In February 2025, Idaho’s Gov. Brad Little signed the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit into law. The program allows parents to receive up to $5,000 in donor-provided per eligible student and up to $7,500 per eligible student who has a disability. These scholarships are for qualifying expenses, ensuring a child’s access to the right school isn’t determined by family income.

But a coalition, including the Idaho Education Association, asked the Idaho Supreme Court to declare the tax credit unconstitutional. Despite union opposition, the court ruled the tax credit program does not violate the state constitution.

Students in Illinois deserve the same opportunities that those in other states are offering their students. A new federal program could provide that for them at no cost to taxpayers.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker could opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program and let Illinois students benefit from donated funds. At least 28 states have indicated they will allow private donors to help students, regardless of where they go to school.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program will offer donors a tax credit and offer students funds for tutoring, fees for dual enrollment, educational therapies for students with disabilities and other academic needs. Donors in every state get the tax credit, but each state must allow its students to accept the donations.

The key aspects of the program are clear from the statutory language:

• All K-12 students are eligible for funds if their household income is at or below 300% of the median income level in their area.
• “Qualified elementary and secondary education expenses” is defined to include tutoring, special needs services, books, supplies, tuition and more for students at public, private or home schools.
• No state or federal funds are used. All funding is from donors.
• Funding is dependent on state action: States must opt in for their students to get funds.
• The tax credit is a done deal: Donors can get an annual $1,700 tax credit even if their states don’t opt into the program.

Pritzker has until Jan. 1, 2027, to opt into the program and let Illinois students benefit from the donated funds. Thousands of low-income students could then have access to private donations for multiple educational purposes, all without taking a single dollar from public schools.

A national poll found that 74% of Americans support school choice, and 65% support the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program specifically. With broad public support, a state declaring the constitutionality of school choice should be a wakeup call to Illinois to support initiatives that allow students to have opportunities to benefit their education.