School decisions and classroom lessons are rarely absolute. There is always room for academic improvement and no one way to teach or learn. Similarly, education policy is relative, subject to interpretation and what is “best practice” varies from region to region.
One of the few educational factors that stays consistent across our state is the dire need for more educational funding. Illinois should do its homework and consider all the benefits and opportunities available through the federal tax-credit scholarship program before deciding whether to bypass or opt into this initiative.
All too often education funding policy is a zero-sum situation where public schools get pitted against private and charter schools for funding in the political arena. This is bad policy and only hurts Illinois families and students on all sides. Recently, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced school closures citing finances and declining enrollment as the main reasons families in those schools will be forced to find other options. Similarly, many public schools in Chicago, and across Illinois, are facing low enrollment and financial strain forcing families to look elsewhere for their education. In all of these situations, additional school funding and a financial boost would help residents, particularly those with low-incomes, find solutions.
Enter the recently created federal tax credit scholarship program, which allows taxpayers to make donations to nonprofit organizations that then award K-12 students scholarships to cover a variety of educational expenses. The program would focus on helping low income students whose families make no more than 300% of an area’s median income. The new law would allow donors to make up to $1,700 contribution to nonprofit scholarship granting organizations and would act similarly to an educational grant so that parents could use the funding to best serve their child’s academic needs.
This spending flexibility would allow parents to cover a variety of expenses such as but not limited to school tuition, school supplies, student technology needs, summer or afterschool programs, academic tutoring, enrichment, college test prep classes, school transportation and other school or academic expenses. Taxpayers can begin to claim tax credits in 2027 but Illinois families, like others across the country, can only benefit and participate if Illinois’ governor agrees to opt in to the program. Critics of this new federal tax scholarship program such as the Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and other lobbying groups say that this funding program takes money away from public education and diminishes schooling opportunities in favor of private or religious schools. This claim is unconfirmed as key details of the program still need to be released.
I am a Chicago Public Schools’ high school teacher, a member of the CTU and a parent with kids that attended both public and private schools. These experiences have showed me that all schools need the proper materials and personnel to offer a quality education, and all parents should be awarded the opportunity to make the choice that is best for their children. Even though I am a CPS teacher who has seen the need for additional resources, I also empathize with those parents who choose to send their children to parochial schools, charter schools or home school. Education in our state should not be a battle where some students get more and some less, or where school funding is lopsided in favor of some schools and underfunding others. It is absolutely possible to invest in all our students. Consequently, before dismissing this federal tax credit scholarship careful consideration should be given to who can benefit from this additional funding and if this program allows a win-win situation for both public and private schools across Illinois.
There are 23 states that have already demonstrated interest or in the process of enrolling in this federal program, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Wisconsin, Hawaii, New Mexico and Oregon are the only states that have declared that they will not opt in. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said of the decision to opt in that it would “be crazy not to.” Others, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, have indicated that it is too early to make a decision without first knowing more key regulations of the program. This cautious approach seems to be the most responsible. The more the leaders know about the funding parameters and eligibility requirements for donor and recipients, the better equipped they are to make a decision that will best benefit their constituents. For example, a big question that remains is: How much authority will individual states have in regulating program rules?
One thing is for certain, there’s no doubt that it would be an egregious mistake to opt out of this potential source of additional funding for so many Illinois families and students in need without first understanding exactly who will benefit and how. Illinois previously had a similar state scholarship program, the Invest in Kids scholarship, which at one point had the support of Gov. JB Pritzker. It is unfair to compare, contrast or criticize the state program in relation to the federal one as its regulations cannot be assumed to be of the same scope or reach.
The day will come when all the information needed to make a sound decision on this additional source of educational funding is released. When that day comes, we can only hope that the decision that Illinois makes is less political and more of a practical, equitable, good government choice that benefits Illinois families and students in both public and private realms.
Froylan Jimenez is a CPS civics teacher and Chicago Teachers Union member.
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