Editorial: A new chance for school choice in Illinois

Chicago Tribune

7 days ago

Illinois once boasted a program that allowed low-income students to obtain scholarships for private school. It was a lifeline for many families whose kids were flailing in large public schools, who were experiencing painful bullying and needed a new environment, or who just didn't find a good fit in their neighborhood school.
Then, state lawmakers, at the urging of teachers unions, let the program expire at the end of 2023, leaving thousands of kids out of options. Without this program, called Invest in Kids, there was simply no money for their families to be able to cover tuition.
This editorial board long supported the program, which was supported by private donations in exchange for a 75% income tax credit. Kids whose family incomes were below 300% of the federal poverty level were eligible. In the 2022-23 school year, more than one-quarter of scholarship recipients came from families earning less than the federal poverty level — $26,500 for a family of four. Nearly two-thirds had household incomes below 185% of the poverty line, or $49,025 for a family of four. More than half of the low-income students who received scholarships through Empower Illinois are Black or Hispanic.
Now, these kids and their families have reason to hope.
Republicans in Congress have introduced the Educational Choice for Children Act, a federal program that would provide tax-credit scholarships for K-12 students nationwide. Like Invest in Kids, this initiative would offer families a lifeline if their public school isn't meeting their child's needs. The ECCA continues to move forward after being included in the budget reconciliation bill approved by the U.S. House on May 22, but must still clear the Senate. This federal initiative proposes up to $5 billion annually in tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, aiming to restore educational opportunities for disadvantaged students in Illinois and nationwide.
Opponents of school choice believe that education is a zero-sum game, and that private schools are a threat to the public system. We believe the opposite — that a thriving private and charter system and a strong traditional public system create an education ecosystem that can serve everyone's needs. There are things private schools can do that public ones can't, and the same is very much true in reverse.
School choice remains popular in Illinois, with a clear majority of residents supporting the concept. More importantly, choice introduces accountability into a system that, for decades, has faced little real competition. When parents have options, schools must respond — whether by improving curriculum, addressing student behavior issues more effectively, or offering stronger support for struggling learners.
Right now, parents with money can tap into alternatives. Poor ones mostly cannot. We view this as fundamentally unfair, and support a world where everyone has access to transformational education options.
Illinois is fortunate to have many outstanding public schools, from suburban standouts like New Trier to top-tier magnets like Walter Payton College Prep. We also recognize the value of private schools that serve distinct communities — including faith-based, independent and neighborhood-based institutions. All play unique roles in our education ecosystem.
Sadly, after Invest in Kids expired, a number of private schools also folded, including St. Odilo School in Berwyn, a pre-K to eighth grade Catholic school.
Springfield has moved on from the thousands of low-income students it left behind a year and a half ago. Now, the ECCA is their best shot. We hope that the Senate passes a version of the reconciliation bill that includes this program.