MEDIA AVAILABILTY from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

CONTACT: Micky Horstman (312) 607-4977

What to watch: Will Illinois lawmakers revive the Invest in Kids scholarship?
63% of Illinoisans support the scholarship program for low-income students

CHICAGO (Oct. 24, 2023) – As the Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield this week for the legislative veto session, the No.1 issue to watch is whether they will extend the Invest in Kids scholarship program.

Set to expire Dec. 31, the program currently helps over 9,600 students – and tens of thousands more on a waiting list – pursue educational opportunities that meet their unique needs. The program serves low-income families, most of whom are minorities.

Illinois voters support the Invest in Kids scholarship program 3-1 with a bipartisan majority, according to a Lincoln Poll survey conducted by Echelon Insights for the Illinois Policy Institute. Overall support for school choice was also high at 64%.

The Lincoln Poll also found parents are particularly displeased with the direction of Illinois. If given the opportunity, 69% of Illinois parents would leave the state. Most parents also said Illinois was heading down the “wrong path.”

“A large majority of parents believe Illinois is heading in the wrong direction. A great way for lawmakers to turn this around is to extend the popular Invest in Kids program,” said Josh Bandoch, head of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute. “For so many families, especially poor and minority families, the Invest in Kids scholarship program is the best way to empower their kids to succeed and thrive.”

Experts at the Illinois Policy Institute are available for comment ahead of and during the veto session. 

For interviews or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.