How to expand success of Illinois’ tax credit scholarships

By Dylan Sharkey

01/14/2022

The Invest in Kids scholarship tax credit program helps low-income families pay for private schools. Making the program permanent and expanding it would help more students attend schools that best fit their needs.

TAGS: Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice

Invest in Kids Act could reduce inequality, lower crime in Illinois’ big cities

By Orphe Divounguy

12/03/2021

A solid education and satisfying employment will go a long way toward reducing crime in Illinois. State lawmakers already have a solution in place, but it needs a boost.

TAGS: crime, Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice

Chicago Sky standout’s rise started with scholarship to private school

By Brad Weisenstein

10/19/2021

Allie Quigley’s team just brought Chicago the WNBA championship, but her success story started with someone donating a scholarship that let her and her siblings attend private school. The result: lessons that built a champion.

TAGS: Chicago Sky, Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice

Making Illinois’ tax credit scholarships permanent will let more students excel

By Ann Miller

10/18/2021

Illinois state lawmakers can give low-income students the security of an education that best fits their needs by making the Tax Credit Scholarship a permanent fixture.

TAGS: Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice, tax credits

Scholarships for low-income students survive Pritzker’s threat, gain a year

By Brad Weisenstein

06/03/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wanted to gut the Invest in Kids program for low-income students. Lawmakers opposed that, adding a year to the program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker

Illinois lawmakers introduce bill to save scholarships for low-income Illinois families

By Ann Miller

05/13/2021

House Bill 4076 would make the Invest In Kids Act permanent. The Invest in Kids Act provides a tax credit of 75 cents for every $1 donated to qualified scholarship granting institutions, up to a maximum of $1 million dollars. It’s currently set to expire in 2022.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker, school choice

Pritzker boosts public school funding by $350 million but wants to cut low-income scholarship program

By Patrick Andriesen

05/07/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wanted to renege on the promised $350 million increase in education spending until state lawmakers pushed back. He still wants to cut the scholarship program low-income and minority students use when public education doesn’t fit them.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker, public schools, school choice, teachers union

Pritzker threatens tax credit scholarship programs for low-income kids, families

By Hilary Gowins

04/19/2021

A tax credit is providing scholarships for Illinois’ low-income and minority students, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker is targeting the program that lets them thrive when public schools are a poor fit.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker, school choice

Pritzker budget slashes school choice scholarships for low-income students

By Vincent Caruso

02/21/2019

The Pritzker administration’s first budget proposes phasing out a school choice program for disadvantaged families. Low-income families loved the program. Public teachers’ unions decried it.

TAGS: budget, education, Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker, school choice

Illinois families catching crossfire in scholarship fight

By Austin Berg

05/17/2018

Despite that booming demand, there are political efforts afoot to crush the scholarship program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, school choice, tax credits

The State of The State: Illinois leaders partly responsible for a sluggish recovery

Illinois’ economy was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2021 was supposed to be a year of recovery. Unfortunately, the policy climate continues to be the state’s biggest liability despite high vaccination rates, great natural endowments, a talented workforce, a large financial sector and a growing tech industry. While Illinois boasts a younger, more highly...

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The State of The State: Illinois leaders partly responsible for a sluggish recovery

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Toni Larocco

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students