Illinois school closures blamed on expired school choice program
The Fallout Begins: Illinois Schools Close as Scholarship Program Expires
The aftermath of the expired Invest in Kids school choice scholarship program is hitting Illinois hard, with schools already announcing their closures. This week, the Archdiocese of Chicago revealed that two west suburban Catholic schools, St. Frances of Rome in Cicero and St. Odilo in Berwyn, will be shutting down at the end of the school year.
With 104 students on scholarship at St. Frances of Rome and 60 students on scholarship at St. Odilo, the impact of the program’s expiration is evident. Invest in Kids, a bipartisan initiative passed in 2017, provided full or partial scholarships to over 10,000 low-income students across the state, enabling them to attend their ideal private schools. Donors to the program received a generous 75% Illinois income tax credit.
Empower Illinois Stands in Solidarity
“Empower Illinois stands in solidarity with the parents, students, teachers, and communities of St. Frances of Rome and St. Odilo. Without this life-changing scholarship program, many of those families simply could not afford to attend the school, forcing its closure,” expressed Bobby Sylvester, Executive Director of Empower Illinois.
Although a compromise was proposed last fall to allocate $50 million annually to the program, Democrats, who hold the majority in both legislative chambers, declined to take action. Governor J.B. Pritzker had previously stated his willingness to sign an extension if the bill reached his desk.
“A Means for Struggling Families to Escape Poverty”
“I think it is important to note that the tax credit scholarship program is providing means for struggling families to get out of poverty,” emphasized Bob Gilligan, Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois.
Gilligan remains hopeful that the program will be renewed in the near future, as many lawmakers have expressed their interest in ongoing discussions. The Catholic Conference of Illinois is committed to advocating for the families impacted by this unfortunate turn of events.
What are the immediate consequences of the expiration of the Invest in Kids program on schools in Illinois, particularly those serving low-income communities?
Ing closures and families scrambling to find alternative options for their children’s education. The program, which provided scholarships to low-income students, officially expired on June 30, and its termination is already having widespread consequences in the state. Illinois must now face the fallout and address the potential long-term impacts on its education system.
The Invest in Kids program was initiated in 2017 as a way to expand school choice options for families in Illinois. It allowed businesses and individuals to receive tax credits for donations made to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). These SGOs then provided scholarships to low-income students, enabling them to attend private schools of their choice. The program aimed to provide equal educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
The termination of this program has left many schools in a precarious situation. Numerous private schools, particularly those serving low-income communities, heavily relied on the scholarship funds provided by Invest in Kids. With the program expired, these schools are now facing an acute financial crisis, making it increasingly difficult for them to sustain operations, pay teachers, and provide quality education to their students.
In recent weeks, several schools have announced their closure due to the financial strain caused by the program’s expiration. For example, Saint Joyce Academy, a private school in Chicago, was forced to shut its doors after being unable to secure sufficient funding to continue operating. This closure, along with others throughout the state, is a clear indication of the immediate impact the program’s expiration has had on Illinois schools.
The closure of these schools brings forth numerous challenges for the affected families. Parents are now left scrambling to find suitable alternative options for their children, often within a limited timeframe. In Illinois, where public schools are already grappling with overcrowding and underfunding, this situation adds further strain to an already overburdened system.
Moreover, the long-term consequences of the Invest in Kids program’s expiration are concerning. By closing down schools that were providing quality education to low-income students, there is a risk of exacerbating educational inequities in the state. These closures may force students back into underperforming public schools, undermining the progress made in expanding educational opportunities.
To mitigate the fallout from the program’s expiration, immediate action is needed from state policymakers. Extended financial support must be provided to struggling schools to keep them afloat during this trying period. Additionally, investment in public schools should be increased to accommodate the influx of students who are now left without private education options.
Furthermore, there is a need to reevaluate Illinois’ approach to school choice and scholarship programs. Expanding access to quality education for low-income students should remain a priority, and alternative methods of funding and support must be explored. This includes exploring partnerships with private organizations, incentivizing businesses to contribute to scholarship programs, and ensuring a sustainable and equitable distribution of resources.
The fallout from the expiration of the Invest in Kids scholarship program is a wake-up call for Illinois. It underscores the need for comprehensive and sustainable policies that prioritize the educational needs of all students, regardless of their background. Swift action must be taken to prevent further school closures and to ensure that every child in Illinois has access to a quality education. Only through strategic and thoughtful measures can the state overcome this challenging period and cultivate a brighter future for its students.
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