Dupage Policy Journal

St. Philip the Apostle School is advocating for the Illinois General Assembly to extend the Invest in Kids Scholarship Fund. 

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 children to attend private schools, is set to sunset on Dec. 31 if not extended by the General Assembly. 

“We traveled to Springfield this week to advocate for legislators to ‘Remove the Sunset’ and keep the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship from ending. Many of our families benefit from this program by receiving tuition scholarships funded by donations to the program,” St. Philip the Apostle School posted on Facebook. “In return, donors receive a credit on their Illinois state taxes of 75% of the donation. It truly is a ‘win-win.’ We are looking for new donors for this year as St. Philip is part of a matching program. A donor has come forward to match the first $6,000 in NEW donations to our school through this program. Help us to take advantage of the match and provide vital scholarship money for our students. For more information or to donate visit empowerillinois.org." 

Several members of the Illinois General Assembly are proposing an extension to the program. 

“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, according to Prairie State Wire. “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.” 

The letter was signed by all Republican House members except State Reps. Tony McCombie (R-Savannah), Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore), Dave Severin (R-Benton), Charlie Meier (R-Okawville), Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), Wayne Rosenthal (R-Morrisonville), Mike Marron (R-Fithian), and Amy Elik (R-Alton).

Senate Bill 3618 would “protect and expand the Invest in Kids Act.” The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago). That bill would end the sunset of the program and would increase the tax benefit to 100% of that donated. The bill would also provide super-priority status to students in the program, allow businesses to designate funds for specific schools, open the program to pre-k students, and allow schools to give more partial scholarships.

State Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) recently took to the House floor to defend the Invest in Kids Scholarship Fund. 

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

Miller further noted that the “General Assembly should be equally enthusiastic and extending and supporting the Invest in Kids Scholarship fund." He urged that they sign a letter of support for the program. 

“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," Miller said. "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 family household income at a moderately above federal poverty level. 70% of their scholarship recipients meet federal guidelines to be eligible for free or the reduced lunch program. These people who donate to this scholarship fund are enthusiastic about supporting the education of underprivileged children.”