Counties urge Pritzker to say yes to donor funds for students
Twelve county boards to date have adopted resolutions pushing for the governor to opt into a donor-funded federal program for academic needs.
The message is clear: Illinoisans want access to donated money for students’ academic needs.
As of May 12, 12 county boards had adopted resolutions urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to opt Illinois into a new federal program that will funnel donated funds to students for tutoring, special-needs services and other academic uses.
The board resolutions follow a March 17 nonbinding ballot question in 31 counties in which 63% of those who voted on it supported opting in. Polling also shows that more than half of Illinoisans support opting into the program.
The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program would allow Illinois public and private school students to receive donor-funded assistance for tutoring, college admissions test preparation, special-needs services and more.
The program comes at no cost to Illinois, as the scholarships are funded by donations and the cost to the federal government is foregone income tax revenue. The program will give a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 each year to individuals donating to non-profit scholarship-granting organizations.
This will not divert any money from Illinois public schools. In fact, the program would benefit thousands of public school students who may be seeking additional academic help outside the classroom.
Opting in means Illinois students struggling in reading or math could get extra funding starting next year for tutoring and other academic services.
But Illinois students can receive the money only if Pritzker opts the state into the program. If he ignores voters, taxpayers still can receive the federal tax credit for donating to students in other states.
The 11 county boards that have adopted a resolution urging Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers to opt in are Macoupin, Alexander, Mercer, Piatt, Perry, Clinton, Gallatin, Edwards, Macon, Cass, Fulton and Ford.
In most of those counties, the resolution says: “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the County Board urges the Governor of the State of Illinois and the Illinois General Assembly to formally opt the State of Illinois into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program so that Illinois students and families may directly benefit from privately funded educational scholarships.”
These resolutions, the ballot question and polls send a strong message to Pritzker. He should listen and opt Illinois into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program.