Hundreds of students and school choice advocates were at the Illinois House chambers to let state representatives know they expect them to save the Invest in Kids Act for low-income students.
The Illinois General Assembly was greeted back to Springfield by private school students pushing them to save the state scholarship program for low-income students. Thousands more are expected Oct. 25.
Low-income students from across Illinois receive Invest in Kids scholarships, with the majority going to Black and Hispanic students.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he would extend the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program if a bill reaches his desk. State lawmakers on Oct. 24 return to Springfield.
“The teachers unions are basically playing hardline partisan politics when our children’s education is at stake."
Democrats’ pollster found Illinois voters strongly support Invest in Kids scholarships for low-income students. The results were similar to other polls, and again tell state lawmakers voters want them to save school choice.
The majority of families who received scholarships from the Invest in Kids program in the 2022-2023 school year earned the equivalent of just $49,025 for a family of four. Over 25% were below the poverty line.
Hear from those involved in Illinois' only school choice program about why Invest in Kids matters and should be saved.
Thousands of Chicagoans will soon have their scholarships cut off thanks to political pressure from the Chicago Teachers Union.
Over 9,600 low-income students rely on the Invest in Kids scholarship program to attend schools that best fit their needs. Here’s what you need to know about the program and why it is important lawmakers extend the program this fall.
"I pulled her and her twin sister from public school because of severe bullying. There was an incident where I could not send them back.”
“Words cannot even begin to express how much these scholarships can truly mean to someone. I want lawmakers to give other kids opportunities to feel the change I felt.”
But nearly 3,000 low-income students enrolled in Chicago’s parochial schools will lose their scholarships if the Invest in Kids Act is not extended by state lawmakers this fall.
“There are a lot of kids that thrive because they're helped out by these scholarships. Like for our family, my husband went through cancer twice and so it affects what jobs he can or can't do."