An easy way to get more education money for Illinois

Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants more federal funding. A new program would provide donor money— but he must opt in.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants a bipartisan effort from Illinois lawmakers to demand more education money from the federal government.

Yet Pritzker himself hasn’t taken a simple step to get more funding for Illinois students.

If he wants to keep money in Illinois and away from the Trump administration, the answer is easy: Opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, which provides a tax credit to donors who give money that can go to public, private or homeschool students.

If the governor doesn’t opt in, that money will flow out of the state — exactly where he doesn’t want it to go.

Pritzker demands more money from the federal government

Pritzker didn’t mince words in his annual budget address last month. He blames the Trump administration for stripping Illinoisans of billions of dollars — and he wants it back.

“I want to say to anyone on either side of the aisle: If you want to talk about our (fiscal) 2027 budget, you must first demand the return of the money and resources this president has taken from the people of Illinois,” he said.

Two days later, the governor sent a letter to President Donald Trump demanding a refund of $1,700 for every Illinois family. The letter followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down the presidents’ tariffs. Pritzker says the tariffs have cost Illinoisans over $8.6 billion.

But Pritzker has the means to keep at least some Illinois tax money from flowing to Washington. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program would do exactly what he wants: keep money in the state while costing nothing.

To do that, he must opt into the program.

Pritzker could get more money for kids

The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program provides a dollar-for-dollar annual tax credit up to $1,700 for donors to scholarship-granting organizations. Those organizations then provide money to eligible public, private or homeschool children for tutoring, fees for dual enrollment, educational therapies for students with disabilities and other academic needs.

It’s a win-win-win: Students get much-needed education funding, donors get tax credits, and no money is diverted from public schools.

Pritzker must opt the state into the program for students to get the money. Donors will get the tax credit even if he doesn’t.

If Pritzker doesn’t act, that money will go out of Illinois — either to students in other states as education donations or to the federal government in the form of taxes.

To date, at least 28 states have indicated they will opt into the program.

That includes Colorado, where Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has said, “The more Democratic governors learn about it, I fully expect that most will come around and participate….Because from our perspective, it’s free money.”

Other Democrats also are on board. Jorge Elorza, CEO of Democrats for Education Reform, has stated, “if a state does not opt in, then by default, the first $1,700 in every single federal taxpayer’s taxes is going to leave your state.” Referring to polling, Elorza said “opting in is not just popular, it is overwhelmingly popular.”

A recent poll for the Illinois Policy Institute showed that almost 55% of Illinoisans support opting into the program, and only about 22% oppose or strongly oppose doing so. Opting in gained more support than opposition across ages, regions, race and political ideology.

In Illinois, the program has received support from Comptroller Susana Mendoza, who has called the decision to opt in an “easy one.”

“Participation in the program does not change Illinois’ public school funding formula in any way. It does not reduce state funds for public schools,” she wrote. “It simply allows voluntary private donations, incentivized through federal tax credits, to provide additional educational support within our state. There is no cost to states, but there is significant missed opportunity if we opt out.”.

With the majority of states and a host of Democratic leaders on board, the program has the bipartisan support Pritzker demanded in his budget address. 

If he’s serious about capturing more funding in Illinois — and keeping it out of the hands of the federal government — he’ll opt the state into the program.