With a new federal scholarship program set to begin January 1, 2027, I am once again calling on Governor JB Pritzker to opt Illinois into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program created under President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
The program provides a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualifying private contributions to scholarship-granting organizations. Those organizations can then provide scholarships to eligible students to help cover educational expenses like tuition, tutoring, books and other needs without adding more spending to Illinois’ already bloated budget.
Thirty states have already elected to participate in the program for 2027. Illinois should be one of them.
There is no reason to deny Illinois families access to an opportunity already being embraced across the country. If Illinois refuses to participate, taxpayers here could still contribute through the federal tax credit but the benefits would go to students in other states instead of helping families here at home.
Let’s stop playing politics and give Illinois families the same opportunity.
