State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) insists that his motivations for sponsoring House Resolution 0169 are simple.
“I think everyone should have the opportunity to be educated where they feel it’s best for them to be educated,” Halbrook told Prairie State Wire. “With this legislation, I’m hoping to bring attention to the situation and to call on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to see the current evidenced-based funding formula for schools all the way through to the end.”
Specific language in HR 0169 directly urges state and federal governments to protect and expand school options for children trapped in underperforming schools across the state.
Illinois State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville)
“My hope is that the ones who stand to be helped most by this are the families and kids who need different choices to assure that they are getting access to the best education possible,” Halbroook added. “It all seems like a win-win situation to me for those who want everyone to have a chance at getting the best education they can.”
Halbrook said he does not know of any good reason why Pritzker would be advocating in favor of any other path forward.
“I’m just speculating, but it may have something to do with the tax credits that would be needed to give everyone a fair choice,” he said. “If that is indeed his stance, I’m in total disagreement with it. I think kids and families need to be free to be educated in an environment and in the surroundings that work best for them.”
Halbrook added that he has always believed competition in the marketplace works to make any product better than what it might normally be.
“That’s what competition does,” he said. “It drives the quality and service of everything up, while reducing the overall costs. I think this would be another example of that."
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