Protect Invest in Kids scholarships for Illinois students
A bipartisan group of Illinois political leaders in 2017 recognized the need to give low-income families a choice in their children’s educations. Invest in Kids was born and allowed 9,600 students this past school year to attend the school of their choice, rather than facing no choice when their public school wasn’t right for them.
Quick facts about Invest in Kids
- 9,656 students received the scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year, with about 4,000 in Chicago. Since the program started, 40,940 scholarships have been awarded.
- Tax credits mean Illinois gives up about $5,900 in revenue per scholarship, but then is relieved of educating that student at a cost nearing $18,000. That means government saves nearly $12,100 per Invest in Kids scholarship–money that can be used elsewhere, including in public schools.
- Families receiving Invest in Kids scholarships average about $45,000 in income.
- Illinois voters strongly support the program by a 3 to 1 margin, which carries across political ideologies. One
poll found 71% of Black voters and 81% of Hispanic voters backed it. - Nearly 40% of Chicago Public Schools teachers have chosen private schools for their own children.
- When public schools fail, private schools can be lifesavers: 72% of elementary students in Chicago parochial schools are proficient readers compared to 20% of third- through eighth-grade students in Chicago Public Schools.
- $1,000 is the most common donation to Invest in Kids, according to the largest scholarship group.