The Chicago Board of Education wants Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reject a federal program offering donated money to students.
A new Chicago Board of Education resolution urges Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers to reject a federal program that will provide donor money for students’ academic needs.
The measure passed 15-0 with three members abstaining.
Many on the board appeared to rely on the inaccurate claim that public money will be diverted for private education. But some seemed wary of blindly following the Chicago Teachers Union, which is less popular than ever.
Board member Jennifer Custer indicated she has seen a lot of community interest and that the feedback she’s heard is “50-50 for and against” the federal program.
Before the vote, board member Ellen Rosenfeld motioned to table the resolution indefinitely. While her motion was unsuccessful, Rosenfeld made clear she believed the issue belongs instead on the board’s legislative agenda.
If the state opts into the program, thousands of K-12 Chicago Public School students could receive donor money for tutoring, test fees, career coaching, books and more.
The money would be donated by taxpayers, who would get a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 each year. Any taxpayer can get the credit for a qualified contribution to a tax-exempt scholarship-granting organization.
That means the only cost to the federal government is minimal foregone income tax revenue. There is no cost to states, only the benefit of more help flowing directly to students.
If Pritzker does not opt Illinois into the program, residents will watch the money flow to other states.
Pritzker has until Jan. 1, 2027, to decide if over a million Illinois families and students will be able to access donated education money for their academic needs.
