Dupage Policy Journal

Veteran Illinois state Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is pushing legislation aimed at aiding families with unforeseen costs associated with having to educate their children at home.

With most schools across the state now relying on home school models in hopes of mitigating the spread of COVID-19, many parents have been left scrambling to make arrangements for digital, off-site learning.

“Parents and guardians were left with very little notice to create a good home-learning environment for their kids,” Grant said. “For many, that meant purchasing additional computers or tablets, upgrading internet access, and even finding tutors. The decision to move learning to remote settings was out of their control, and they should not have to foot the bill for the equipment and resources they have had to purchase.”

House Bill 5834 would establish a state income tax credit for parents and legal guardians of school-age students for educational expenses stemming from remote learning costs directly tied to the rise of the coronavirus. Eligible expenses include additional computers, printers, internet routers, tutors, learning facilitators and certain childcare expenses.

With additional credits also expected to be made available to teachers with children in hopes of enticing them to work at their schools as opposed to remaining at home with their own children, Grant said she plans to do all she can to push the bill over the finish line during the upcoming fall veto session.

Now in her second year of serving as the face of the 42nd District, Grant serves on the House’s Appropriation-Elementary& Secondary Education Committee. She in on the Nov. 3 ballot, seeking re-election against Democrat challenger Ken Mejia-Beal.