HR0412 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0412 LRB103 34287 MST 64113 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 2017, during the 100th General Assembly, the Invest in Kids Act was created to grant low-income to middle-income parents a choice about their children's educations, bringing about a new era for children's education in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Invest in Kids Program provides 75% tax credits to individuals and businesses for their donations to scholarship-granting organizations, non-profits that provide school scholarships to low-income and middle-income students; and

WHEREAS, The income limit for recipients of this program is 300% of the poverty level for new applicants and 400% of the poverty level for renewals, meaning that the most vulnerable students and families benefit from this program; and

WHEREAS, During the 2021-2022 school year, the average scholarship value was $8,340, and 9,029 students participated in the program, leading to many students receiving excellent educations without jeopardizing their families' budgets; and

WHEREAS, Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates, someone directly involved in the quality of public education, has elected to send one of her children to a private institution; and

WHEREAS, The Invest in Kids program is funded entirely through private donations to scholarship-granting organizations; local public school districts' funding from the State is protected and cannot drop below 2019 levels, even if the student population drops as it has in Chicago Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, The 103rd General Assembly let this much loved and well-respected program be pushed to the side, leaving thousands of students and families without direction as to what would become of their educations; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has a responsibility to grant freedom to its citizens, including freedom to make decisions about their children's education; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the General Assembly to take a vote on removing the sunset from the Invest in Kids Act during the upcoming Veto Session and make it possible for these students to continue their educations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Speaker of the House Chris Welch, President of the Senate Don Harmon, and Governor JB Pritzker.