Update on SB2494 and School Choice

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By Collin Hitt, Director of Education Policy

Thousands of families are trapped in failing or poverty-stricken overcrowded schools. An effort was born this spring to give those families a better choice. A school voucher bill was proposed by Senator James Meeks to allow those families to choose a private school for their children, if they so desired.

Though the bill passed the full Illinois Senate and the Illinois House Executive Committee, there is not yet enough support within the House of Representatives to send the legislation to the governor’s desk. Yesterday, Senate Bill 2494 was placed on extended consideration – meaning that the legislation has already received significant support but not a majority of votes on the House floor.

The move to extended consideration means that no official roll call was taken after yesterday’s impassioned debate in House chambers. However, video of the live vote showed that the landmark school choice legislation was likely five or six votes away from passage, despite heavy opposition from union lobbyists and other powerful interest groups.

Parents, teachers, taxpayers and grassroots activists provided a powerful counter to the special interests who opposed this bill. Their ongoing support will be integral if families in Chicago’s worst schools are to have a way out.

And the next step supporters can take is simple: call their elected representatives and candidates for office, and ask them to support this life-saving measure when the legislation next comes before the legislature for a vote.