Three ways Illinois could boost the trades with the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit, could expand access to career and technical education for Illinois students.

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program could help build the next generation of skilled trades workers in Illinois.

If the state opts into the program, also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit, Illinois students could use donor money to cover expenses for career and technical education such as:

• Costs associated with high school career and technical education classes.
• Tuition or expenses for dual-credit courses in the trades.
• Expanding participation in high school trades programs.

It’s up to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to decide whether he’ll allow Illinois students to access these donor-provided funds. He has until Jan. 1 to opt the state into the program. So far over 30 states plan to participate.

In the 2024-25 school year, nearly half of Illinois’ public high school students participated in career and technical education.

By opting into the program, Pritzker could help students pursue hands-on training for stable, good-paying careers without the cost of a four-year degree. Donated money from the program could help the state reduce its unemployment rate and keep or improve its third-in-the-nation rank for workforce development.

1. Donor funds could help cover the costs associated with career and technical education courses

The money could help students afford any of the costs of high school career and technical education. While such courses are free in Illinois public schools, students can still face expenses for tools, uniforms, supplies or registration fees.

FSTC donations could remove any financial barriers keeping students from participating in career and technical education and help more high school students gain hands-on exposure to welding, construction, automotive, electrical work, agriculture, manufacturing and other skilled fields.

2. Donor funds could help cover tuition or expenses for dual-credit courses

The federal program also could help students cover costs associated with career and technical education dual-credit courses provided by high schools and community colleges.

In Illinois, dual credit allows high school students to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Costs vary by local agreement, with some programs free to students but others charging for tuition, fees, books or materials.

When career and technical education dual credit is part of a student’s high school program, donor support could help that family cover any those costs and allow the student to graduate with a head start toward a credential, a certificate or an apprenticeship pathway.

3. Donor funds could help students access high school trade programs

The federal program could expand access to private high school trade programs built in partnership with unions.

Chicago Hope Academy offers a model that has worked for private schools. Its Trades Pathway involves hands-on building-trades courses for juniors and seniors, developed with a coalition of Illinois trade unions, and prepares students for opportunities such as electrical apprenticeships. That kind of program pairs a traditional high school education with technical training and gives students a clearer bridge from classroom to career.

Union leaders highlighted such programs when they supported a former scholarship program in Illinois. The opportunity is even more robust now because the new federal program will benefit public school students as well as those in private school.

Opting into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program would give Illinois students another door into the skilled trades. That should be an easy choice.