Springfield, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Scholarship funding for hundreds of low income private school students throughout the state will come to an end at the end of the year after the Democrat majority in the Illinois House failed to act on the Invest In Kids program during the final day on the fall veto session.
Invest in Kids helps lower-income families afford private schools through scholarships funded by donations. Individuals that contribute to Invest in Kids, receive a 75% tax credit.
Nearly 10,000 students have scholarships including hundreds from the suburbs, and many of those students were in Springfield this week speaking with members of the General Assembly in hopes of having the program continued.
Invest in Kids recipients and advocates say the program gives them a choice in education. Democrats and powerful teachers unions argue the program depletes revenues for public schools.
At an end of session press conference, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) said the program will continue to be a priority of the House Republican Caucus. She also pointed to the fact that numerous Democrat members, include the House Speaker, send their children to private schools, but refuse to give others the opportunity.
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