Jeanne Ives, former Illinois State Representative and founder of Breakthrough Ideas, said on X that public teacher unions oppose school-choice competition and face limited accountability for results.Â
“No surprise that the public teacher unions don’t want competition,” said Jeanne M Ives. “They only exist to protect their bloated pay and benefits that they receive regardless of terrible results.”
The federal program, known as the Federal Tax Credit for Contributions to Scholarship-Granting Organizations, permits individual taxpayers to donate to qualifying 501(c)(3) scholarship organizations. In return, they receive a dollar-for-dollar federal income tax credit starting in 2027. States have the option to participate in this program beginning in the calendar year 2027. As the credit is linked to federal tax liability, it does not necessitate an Illinois state appropriation or a state-budget line item for operation, even if Illinois decides to opt-in.
According to IRS guidance and federal law, eligible taxpayers can contribute to qualifying 501(c)(3) scholarship-granting organizations starting in 2027 and claim a dollar-for-dollar federal income tax credit up to a specified limit per taxpayer. The credit is adjusted by any state tax credit claimed for the same contribution, ensuring that the program functions through taxpayer-directed contributions rather than state spending.
Major national teacher unions oppose voucher-style programs, including tax-credit scholarship models. The National Education Association categorizes tax-credit scholarships as part of the broader voucher category. Meanwhile, the American Federation of Teachers supports lobbying and organizing efforts against both voucher programs and expansions of tax-credit scholarships. These positions often impact state-level debates concerning private school choice.
Ives is noted as a West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran who served as a platoon leader and commander, according to her official biography from the Illinois General Assembly. She also served in the Illinois House of Representatives, which is part of Illinois’s legislative branch composed of a Senate and House elected from legislative and representative districts.
