By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
School choice in Illinois is dead. For now. The teachers unions were on a warpath to kill Illinois’ small tax-credit scholarship program and their Democratic allies weren’t willing to cross them. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon failed to call a bill to a vote this week to extend the program and with that, the Invest in Kids Act sunsets at the end of this year.
Gone are the scholarships for nearly 10,000 low-income students, largely minority kids. And, so too, is the hope for tens of thousands more kids to be able to escape the failure of Illinois’ public school system.
That there should be school choice in Illinois is beyond argument. Just look below at what the teachers unions and Illinois’ educational system is delivering today, after spending nearly $24,000 per student. The results are beyond dismal.
In Decatur, 7,300 of the school district’s 7,900 enrollment can’t read at grade level. That’s 92% of all kids – data straight from the state report card.
In Peoria, 10,700 of the school district’s 12,600 can’t read at grade level. That’s 85% of all kids there.
It’s pretty much the same in Rockford and Elgin and Waukegan and many areas of the state.
And at Chicago Public Schools, 239,000 of the district’s 320,00 enrollment can’t read at grade level. That’s 75% of all kids.
In all, 1.2 million of the state’s 1.85 million public school students can’t read at grade level. 1.4 million can’t do math at grade level.
It’s an indictment of the school system and all the political and education elite who’ve run it for decades.
Those results alone, on top of the other education failures we’ve highlighted at Wirepoints, are proof enough that Illinois needs universal school choice, where every single student in the state, no matter race, income or special needs, gets access to a voucher or an education savings account.
Universal choice is already spreading across the country.
But it won’t happen here as long as the unions rabidly oppose school choice, as the Chicago Teachers Union did in its press release yesterday. Read it for yourself here. The union is celebrating the fact that Illinois becomes the first state in the country to entirely kill off its school choice program. They are gloating at keeping kids trapped in failing schools.
***************
Yes, the unions and Illinois’ leadership under Gov. Pritzker have succeeded in killing the Invest in Kids Act. But hopefully, the seed – and the hope – for school choice is still alive.
Count on the movement to mount a comeback. The question is what should that comeback looks like. We’ll share our thoughts on that soon.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- Illinois per student spending jumps to nearly $24K, CPS at nearly $30K.
- 1.2 million Illinois public school children can’t read at grade level, and yet legislature, unions push to kill state’s only school choice program
- 5 facts they don’t want you to know about Illinois’ 2023 student test results
- Chicago: Where violence and dismal education intersect
- Poor student achievement and near-zero accountability: An indictment of Illinois’ public education system – Wirepoints Special Report
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
If you want to give your kids a good education and a successful life then move out of Illinois.
Otherwise your bad parenting & selfishness will not be forgotten nor forgiven.
Does this mean grandparents who have qualifying grandchildren can no longer contribute to the program getting a tax credit while the grandchildren get private schooling?
Just asking is all…just asking
First, the term “warpath” should be stricken as an archaic negative reference to Native Americans. Second, you don’t say why the choice option was scuttled, or how/if the voucher schools rated better on reading scores. So this post is pretty useless to me
First, the term “warpath” should be stricken – sounds like you’re an indoctrinator and a lot of things must trigger you. It is negative when used in reference to Native Americans. In the context of the article it’s not a negative reference, check a dictionary for a definition if you don’t believe me. Why the choice option was scuttled – the teachers union wanted it scuttled, more money for public schools = more money for teachers union. Illinois politicians are beholden to the teachers union and when the union says jump they ask how high. how/if the voucher schools rated… Read more »
Warpath should be stricken? LOL!!!!!!!!! You’re one of them, got it. If any term should be stricken it should be Native American because they aren’t native. They emigrated from Asia across the Aleutian chain. It is painfully obvious why it was scuttled, it was because the IEA and the IFT wanted it scuttled and they made it perfectly clear to everyone…except the willfully ignorant.
Surprise and f you kids! Love, the CTU.
Here’s CTU taking a hot-poker-in the-eye victory lap after using $millions in union dues (taxpayer $bucks) to defeat Invest in Kids:
https://www.ctulocal1.org/posts/voucher-victory/
Why shouldn’t they? The CTU believes that this program takes away tax dollars that could be used for public education. They are not ashamed of this win because they believe it’s the right thing to do.
Please read the NOW opinion letter in the Naperville Patch under Neighbor Posts. The author’s response to a comment tells us all we need to know about the motives behind this, namely money. She told more about herself than she realizes.
They don’t care about the less than1% of education funding that goes to this program. They did it out of revenge because the Catholic School system embarrassed them during COVID and the abysmal testing scores of CPS students. Stop the BS that they did this for altruistic reasons. They did it in spite of the overwhelming majority of the people of Illinois that supported it, not because it was the “right” thing to do. The amount of money going to that program gets truncated on a financial statement.
Since it’s such a small amount of money you’ll have no problem sending that additional money over to public schools. CTU has always been against spending public money on private schools. They wanted this program killed well before COVID.
If this program truly is the right thing to do then start donating more money to it. Not sure how much you gave before but it’s time to start paying up to help the children. Sure you won’t get a tax credit but come on it’s for the children. Unless you really don’t care about those kids.
My parents, and now myself, have continued to pay tax dollars to school districts long since the last of us graduated. If that’s not enough to keep people such as Johnson and Gates rolling in dough, too bad. I know we certainly wouldn’t want the source for fat pensions to dry up, for the children’s sake, of course.
Nice pretzel logic. Since it is such a small amount of total money going to the failed public schools, especially since the act started and the EBF money has increased over $2Billion since you should have no problem with low income families having a choice. If you knew what you were talking about in relative proportion to the amount of posts you make on WP you would know when the law was first enacted it did not get any pushback from the unions because they were bought off with other money. The one thing that you are correct about is… Read more »
Anonymous rich internet tough guy. Well done hero. With all that money you should just cover this yourself.
“Anonymous rich internet tough guy. Well done hero. With all that money you should just cover this yourself.”
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! And I rest my case, anonymous weak troll, again, can’t win the argument and your fallback is another ad hominem attack. Is you life that void that you have to perpetually troll WP? Seriously, go volunteer somewhere and do something good for the kids.
You know I can’t say for the CTU types but here in downstate a lot of teachers have animosity towards the non-public schools as they too feel what they do is the right thing regarding education. They do have some pretty valid complaints regarding public education but at the end of the day they feel public education is the best…just sayin
The public schools serve as a continual positive reminder that ultimately we can’t segregate ourselves into separate groups which have privileged levels of association. That’s exactly what private schools do–segregate people into sets of people having similar life beliefs. In short, we have to get along with literally every segment of society if we expect peach and harmony in this country. Private schools subliminally teach the opposite–that your beliefs rein supreme and that the people having other sorts of beliefs are not important to your progress as a person or as a citizen of this country, the larger issue in… Read more »
That is the silliest thing I’ve heard yet – You have exposed yourself. IKA is about access to quality education, which in IL typically means private education. The Teachers Union doesn’t want anything with quality except their compensation and benefits. Just look at Mayor Jonson and the criminal CTU leader Gates as an example.
These “ united “ states that give people an unfair advantage and dumb down everything for some people? These “ united “ states that allow criminals to walk because there are already too many of the same color in jail? These “ united “ states where people paid with our taxes have a better standard of life and send their kids to private schools? Those “ united “ states? Dream on.
Catholic private schools have been around in Chicago since my Italian relatives stepped off the boat in the 1860’s. what are you talking about?
In central IL I’ve known about 9 public school ‘teachers’ and administrator types. The majority, say 2/3rds, were basically malcontents, not terribly intelligent, or very skilled, but with a sense of entitlement. Those are the ones who cling to the union, for under most circumstances they would be fired for incompetence and underperformance. Hence the fact that so many public schools in IL are failures at their basic mission of education. Democrats and the teachers union have turned many of the IL public schools into jobs programs and daycare centers.
Okay, then tell us some some way that you can attract the truly limited number of high I. Q. individuals into the world of becoming public school teachers and at a salary presumably acceptable to local taxpayers payers with most thinking they already pay too much. Keep in mind that any district is likely to need several of them to make any significant improvement to student test scores district wide. Wirepoints readers typically want higher test score results but at lower cost. So far that’s generally one of those things easier said than done apparently.
I’ve know several teachers who left the public schools because the schools are not serious about education. The dysfunction of the public schools will largely be fixed when parents can freely choose where they send their kids.
They can do that now. They just don’t get to make me pay for their private school choice.
Show me where your tax dollars are used for private schools. Go on take the bait. The bigger picture here is school vouchers, which the teachers unions are against because they do not like the thought of competition…even within their own public school system.
Far better to make everyone pay for public school failure. The leftist indoctrination is a side benefit. Madrasas for everyone!
They have no idea how to fix it James nor do they really care about any of these students. They want a voucher program where the lowest needs students that don’t require much attention can attend private school at the taxpayers expense while those same private schools refuse to accept any high needs students. This way they get to stick the high cost students with the public schools and then complain some more about how much it costs. They could pass a law that allows for the highest need students the chance to have a voucher and attend a private… Read more »
You are raving now – go back to your local tavern.
His ‘compromise’ is communism. He suggests we take our lowest performing, highest need students in CPS and give them vouchers for private schools, to intentionally destroy middle-class nature of most of these private schools by burdening them with the worst students imaginable. This is a ‘compromise’
“Let’s make all private schools $hitholes” is the crux of his argument. Doesn’t surprise me one bit.
No. I’m telling you that if the private schools are the panacea that you claim then taking on the most challenging students will turn these kids around. After all, people love to claim that private schools are superior. Time to put up or shut up. ““Let’s make all private schools $hitholes” is the crux of his argument. Doesn’t surprise me one bit.” Thanks for admitting that what makes schools $hiteholes are the lousy students. It’s not the fault of the teachers, buildings, books or administration as so many here claim. If schools or teachers are the cause of low performance… Read more »
The solution is to teach, and expel or suspend the kids who won’t get in line. It’s not that difficult. These aren’t my ideas, it’s what non-communist teachers have been saying for years. AND THIS IS WHAT THE PRIVATE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DO THAT ACCEPT THE VOUCHERS. Sure, CPS had a higher drop-out rate a generation ago, but test scores were much higher. Now they have a high graduation rate, they can’t read or write, but are great at expressing their grievances, and they spend half the year in SEL. Meanwhile, the disruptive kids wreck it for everyone else, b/c it’s… Read more »
I’m all for expelling and suspending students that don’t get in line. Unfortunately, school administrators don’t support that tactic. What teacher wouldn’t want to teach a well behaved classroom that is actually there to learn.
The leftists in the teachers unions fought to bring about the conditions you describe, in the name of equity. Now they whine about the chaos they created.
The people that supported this originally are not the ones that want to change it now. You do understand that teachers are not all unified on these types of issues. Also, the teachers unions had nothing to do with keeping these trouble makers in schools. I have yet to see a teachers union contract where they demanded troubled kids don’t get suspended or expelled. I have yet to see a union contract where teachers demand that students are passed along instead of failing them and forcing them to repeat a grade. You continue to show your hatred for an entire… Read more »
You misunderstand. I don’t hate a profession. I hate an ideology. It just happens that the biggest proponents of that ideology congregate in certain professions. And they consistently whine about how difficult it is to deal with the real world consequences of the ideology they have supported for decades.
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/nations-largest-teachers-union-calls-for-curbs-on-school-policing/2022/07 Nation’s Largest Teachers’ Union Calls for Curbs on School Policing The nation’s largest teachers’ union adopted a new policy statement calling for an end to the “criminalization and policing of students”—but stopped short of urging the removal of armed officers on school campuses. Last year, National Education Association delegates established a task force to explore the role of law enforcement in education. The task force—which included teachers and at least one school security guard—has since developed a policy statement on how to achieve “safe, just, and equitable schools” and published a 73-page report outlining the group’s analysis and rationale.… Read more »
It’s in the interest of Democrats to have stupid voters. That’s why they want kids stuck in government schools.
Illinois IS dead. He crossed the “red line”. Once again, JB is first to decide the worst. He wears his decisions as a badge of honor. He has declared war on the rest of us and we will respond. We are a formidable force. It won’t work out well for him. Not even teacher’s union support will help him.
lol. I’m sure he is quaking in his boots. Pretty sure he originally campaigned on ending this program.
Good. I’m glad he’s quaking in his boots. Pretty sure he should be.
You continue believing that Marie. It seems to comfort you.
And you continue “rolling over” and passively accepting all these decisions ruining Illinois. I would expect nothing different from you. Denial and acceptance seem to comfort you. It is what it is. I’m out.
Glad you’re out. We don’t need to read any more of your mindless analysis.
You actually think this issue will bring down JB? You must be new.
Here is an answer. Pensions paid last or Not at all.
That option doesn’t exist. The people of Illinois have enshrined pensions into the constitution along with public education. Paying for private school is clearly at the bottom of the list.
Pensions will be paid first Billy boy.
If pensions will be paid first then why did the state skip pension payments. Eventually they will become insolvent…and not paid at all…because that’s how math works.
The state has never missed a pension payment to pensioners only their funds. The pension funds merely exist for the benefit of the state. They are setting aside money that they are legally obligated to pay in the future. Don’t set enough aside? Then the money will come out of the general fund. Hence, before the state spends money elsewhere, pensions will be paid first.
Pay more now to pension funding or pay even more later. Those are your choices.
That obligation to pay from the general fund would be an unsecured obligation, junior to senior obligations like bonds, to be paid pro rata with other unsecured debt, to the extent money is available to do that.
It would still be secured by the constitution of Illinois that the debt must be paid. We saw what happened during the Rauner budget standoff. The courts stepped in and forced payments. There is no magical waiting for the pension funds to run out of money and then just stiffing pensioners. Pure fantasy Mark and you know it.
What will happen is that Illinoisans will eventually figure out that the state cannot be made competitive again as long as the pension albatross is on its neck. The state will continue to decline for that reason until people have had enough, then change will come one way or another.
Well, you’ve got that to look forward to Mark. Please let us know when you think that will happen. 20 years? 30? Somehow I don’t think you’ll see this in your lifetime. The state has vast taxing capabilities and people leaving the state is not a valid reason to cut debt. With all the decline you continue to harp on about, the state continues to collect greater tax revenue as well as pay its bills. Remember, raising taxes is less drastic than cutting pensions. Even long time pension foes have come to the conclusion that more taxes will be needed… Read more »
If you really thought that genuine pension reform is impossible you wouldn’t be writing here constantly against it.
I’ve answered that question many times Mark. Both parties think they can kick the can down the road and I would prefer they start making actuarial payment so that the state can be on stronger financial footing. I want the same thing as you but I don’t think you can do it on the backs of pensioners. The longer we wait the more expensive it will get. It’s called being fiscally responsible instead of daydreaming and fantasizing about the theft of pensions. Notice how I answered your question? How about you try now. When will all this happen? If you… Read more »
“The longer we wait the more expensive it will get.”
It’s called collapse and nothing gets paid. IL will be the first truly failed state. The prophet Jeremiah screamed at the top of his lungs for 50 years before the day of judgment came. That’s what Mark is doing here. We are listening, but unfortunately, few others are listening.
So true Mr Glennon.
On pensions in Illinois PPF knows deep down the Fat Lady will be singing at the Opera, one day. Maybe not in our lifetime but she will.
The pendulum will swing. Pensions will be reformed.
This post will age well, maybe not until after I am long gone but it will.
Ummm…wrong. Yes, the pensioners received their funds but they most certainly are not setting away funds as determined by the adults in the room, that being the actuaries, and not the “legal” required amount as determined by the children who created this mess. So, when the pension funds go insolvent, you are screwed…if you are still alive. Continue to mismanage the pensions now or address the situation like other states have to avoid getting pennies on the dollar and then nothing. Those are your choices.
You’re wrong Tommy boy. Past court cases do not agree with you. But you keep dreaming. Pay more now or pay even more later. Those are your choices.
No, I am not wrong. Past court cases in other states have been shown that when taken to the Federal level and not the corrupt level of the State of Illinois courts that it can be done. Try again.
Please point to one of those federal cases. Also, please provide how they will get to the federal courts. If the ILSC requires payments what would be the reason for seating relief? You would be asking the federal courts to intervene on a state finance issue because you wouldn’t want taxes to increase? Good luck with that.
The IL courts have already stated that while pensioners have no right to a set funding level, if those funds appear to get too low they are welcome to petition the court to demand payment made to the funds.
Here you go:
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2019/05/legal-protections-for-state-pension-and-retiree-health-benefits
That report doesn’t show a federal case where pensions weren’t paid or were cut because the state pension funds were insolvent. Not sure what you are referencing. McNamee vs State of Illinois outlined that pensioners don’t have a right to any set funding level but could get the courts to step in if the funds were on the verge of bankruptcy which would result in an impairment of their contractual rights. Haven’t heard your argument that pensioners will get nothing if the funds run out in quite some time. Every expert on this issue knows that Illinois is on the… Read more »
Reading and comprehension are skills…that you clearly lack. You can’t even follow the argument here. You have no clue on how funding works. I have forgotten more about pensions than you will ever know.
The state of IL created its various public employee pension systems as an ongoing operational convenience. Even so, the state itself has the underlying responsibility to assure that all such pensions are paid “in a timely manner” and in the full amount as required by the laws determining how such pensions are payable. That was said by the ILSC in May of 2015 as part of their rejection of the public employee pension reform law. Thus, the financial health of the state is more important to pensioners than that of their pension systems.
That’s a good review of a basic concept from Econ 101. Mandatory payments deferred are going to cost more as time passes. The moans and groans which persist meantime to the contrary from those who owe the debt are a waste of time and energy. Those who live in la-la land and will not accept that simple truth need to reread it daily as necessary until it sinks in!
Many are incapable James. You would think the constant moaning about pensions for the last decade while watching public employees gain more power (constitutional collective bargaining for example) would wake people up that stiffing pensioners is not an option. The ILSC even spelled it out for the people and still they play dumb on this matter.
Raising taxes continues to remain an option. Plenty of taxes left to be raised. As the court ruled, raising taxes is considered less drastic than cutting pensions.
I honestly don’t care about rigged IL supreme court rulings that are complete applesauce. The near constant pandering by Democrats and public employee unions for bailouts says a lot about their confidence in a failed pension system, and those bailouts will end very quickly.
Of course you don’t care about ILSC rulings. That would require you to come to terms with the fact that pensioners will be getting paid. That would require you to learn that raising taxes is less drastic than cutting pensions. That would require you to learn that there is no getting out of paying this debt for the state. As I noted above, it’s much easier for you to play dumb than embrace reality. Let me help you with that reality one more time. Pensions will be paid first and other services will be cut or taxes will be raised… Read more »
All is not lost. This loss for kids may be an opportunity looked at from another angle. The Invest program relied on donations from individuals so they could get a small tax break. So why not continue and promote the program without the tax break for now. People can still make contributions if they want but maybe for a smaller amount and not be concerned about the tax break. Five or ten dollars or more here and there will still add up to some kids getting a scholarship maybe not 9K maybe more if it properly promoted. Maybe some sort… Read more »
The meager IKA never replaced donations overall – fundraising is an ongoing effort at all private schools. IKA did become very important though for those schools serving the ‘working poor’ – those students, families, and schools will be devastated.
True- But it needs to be promoted that the Invest is not shut down but still needs donations albeit without the tax breaks. I don’t think those who gave small donations really cared about getting a tax break. Maybe getting some corporate sponsorship who may get a Federal tax break for making a larger donations. Most larger corporations have departments that do philanthropy so they should be contacted. The way the news outlets talked about Invest sounded like the program is gone but it is not. Many people will think it is. I think more money will be donated just… Read more »
You’re absolutely correct Freddy. People are still free to donate to this program they just won’t get the tax break. If so many people on this site are upset, they should start organizing a campaign to collect donations. It’s for the children.
Which education is supposed to be but, sadly in IL, isn’t.
There are charter schools serving working poor communities, nearly all minority students, that are near 100% dependent on IKA – what should they do other than shut down? The corporate donations tend to go where the employees live. The IKA, though meager, was serving the working poor very well in getting their kids a decent education. Pritzker, Democrats and the Teachers Union decided to squash the future of these kids for some perceived political gain – very disgusting. Pritzker is absolutely unfit to lead anything more than a crazed mob of leftist extremists.
There are many ways a child can learn at very little cost. Take Khan Academy for example. Basically every subject you can think of from preschool to advanced math. They even have studies on Illinois pensions. All the kids need are a Chromebook and internet or good Wi-Fi. They also offer classes to districts as you will see if you scroll down on the link. Education does not have to cost $30K per student. The internet when used properly gives us all access to most of the world’s knowledge (good and bad) with just with a few keystrokes for next… Read more »
Young children need structured instruction so that they can become proficient in reading, arithmetic, and critical thinking. After that, things like KA can be fully utilized. IKA was working very well for many working poor families. Pritzker, Democrats, and the Teachers Union have now gleefully snuffed out that candle of light and hope.
Stellanis can still reopen and expand in Belvidere if they want and not be concerned about the tax break.
You’re right nixit. However, our duly elected political leaders have decided to spend our money on Stellantis. They have determined that this is a worthwhile investment. The state has limited resources and only certain items will be financed by the state.
People are free to elect representatives that will spend resources differently. However, the people must appreciate the current spending habits as they continue to send the same people into office.
The state or fed stellantis subsidies are still unknown to public? Is thid a first?
Companies like Amazon with a market cap of $1.4 Trillion and Bezos worth $114B and they still get all kinds of tax breaks. Towns and states bend over backwards to have another facility built. Who knows what Stellantis received but there will be of lot of taxes paid both locally and state wide by employees. Stellantis has profits in the billions. They played a game by their rules and won mostly by the striking of all three auto plant workers. My guess is Stellantis would have opened regardless since they spent a small fortune upgrading and retooling the plant a… Read more »
The continued destruction of Illinois is excellerating .
The junk schools, businesses are leaving,
Crime and criminals continue to rule this state.
All I see now is this state is filling with ghosts
Everywhere you look.
The favorite neighborhoods are gone, the favorite restaurants are gone. The fear of crime on the faces of people. The state will continue to support ghosts who cannot spell, read or care about safe laws for all.
When the vultures finish feeding on the carcasses only ghosts remain.
Goodbye to a once beautiful city that is no more.
This is the kind of thing that hurts JB on the national level. His ambivalence towards the program is really what killed it.
Even more insulting, Welsh never even called the bill for vote.
So reminiscent of a Madigan tactic
This is pretty much the strategy of every majority leader. Majority leaders don’t call for votes for items that won’t pass or don’t want to pass. That’s just bad politics. Definitely not unique to Illinois.
maybe things are worse now then under Madigan? That could make for a good WP research piece.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Hmm, Dem’s are “Pro Choice” when it comes to butchering future students.
Thank goodness the teachers make enough money to send their children to private schools.
Leaving, you don’t know how true that rings. I once read a study which purported that the kids of public school teachers have the highest percentage enrollment rates on private schools. Think Stacey Gates.
Sorry WP, but this is just another huge nail in the coffin of IL. Families must leave if they can for the sake of their kids. When you look at the priorities of Democrats, how they hurt many of the citizens, mostly kids, for the benefit of special interests it is appalling.
PS: The ‘statement’ by the CTU reads like a Marxist manifesto – I’m from NC, and that sentence on NC is totally false, and has nothing to do with IL or IKA. Chicago and IL are overrun with Leftist Extremist Democrats – there is no solution.
No need to say “Sorry WP.” We agree, and often say that about that about all the nails they are pounding in the coffin.