Prairie State Wire

Over 9,000 K-12 students who are the beneficiaries of the Invest in Kids Tax Credit may be looking for new schools to attend after Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the program is “not in the budget. 

“This is not something that’s been covered by the budget agreement. It’s something that still has time, potentially, but it’s not something that’s in the budget agreement,” Pritzker said at a press conference announcing a budget deal had been struck.

The Tax Credit Scholarship Program allows for donors to receive a tax benefit for donating to a state maintained scholarship program for private schools for low income families. 

The fund, which provides backing for around 9,000 needy children to attend private schools, is set to sunset on Dec. 31 if not extended by the General Assembly. 

“We the undersigned members of the Illinois General Assembly are expressing our support of the extension of the ‘Invest in Kids’ Scholarship Fund,” the GOP General Assembly signatories of a letter requesting to extend the program wrote. 

“This is a shared priority of both caucuses which benefits the education of underprivileged children.” 

“We look forward to the sunset of this program being extended.”

GOP legislators in the Illinois General Assembly have united to support the program's extension. 

“We the undersigned members of the Illinois General Assembly are expressing our support of the extension of the ‘Invest in Kids’ Scholarship Fund,” the signatories of a letter requesting to extend the program wrote. 

“This is a shared priority of both caucuses which benefits the education of underprivileged children.” “We look forward to the sunset of this program being extended.”

Before the May 19 budget deadline State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) spoke on the House floor to support the Invest in Kids Scholarship Fund. 

“I want to continue voicing my enthusiastic support of our Illinois Invest in Kids Scholarship Fund,” Miller said on the House floor. 

“As many of our colleagues have said, this issue isn't about politics. It's not about Democrats and Republicans. It's not about left or right. It's not about liberal or conservative, but it's about the children, specifically underprivileged children and the children needing additional academic support.” 

“These scholarships can benefit students who are academically gifted, but it also benefits nearly 1,000 students who have unique academic needs and learning disabilities. This program is incredibly diverse, with 60% of the scholarship recipients being non-white. This program is need-based. Two-thirds of the scholarship recipients have an average household family household income at a moderately above federal poverty level. 70% of their scholarship recipients meet federal guidelines to be eligible for free or reduced lunch program. These people who donate to this scholarship fund are enthusiastic about supporting the education of underprivileged children.” 

“This General Assembly should be equally enthusiastic and extending and supporting the Invest in Kids Scholarship fund.”