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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
URGING THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO OPT-IN TO THE FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, in 2023, the State of Illinois became one of only a small number of states without any school choice program after discontinuing its private school choice initiative; and
WHEREAS, student academic outcomes in Illinois demonstrate a pressing need for additional educational supports and services, with only 41 percent of students in grades three through eight reading at grade level and just 28 percent meeting grade-level proficiency in mathematics; and
WHEREAS, by eleventh grade, fewer than one in three Illinois students achieve proficiency in reading or mathematics, highlighting continued educational challenges as students approach graduation; and
WHEREAS, the Educational Choice for Children Act established a Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program that allows private individuals and organizations to donate to scholarship-granting organizations in exchange for federal tax credits of up to $1,700 annually, with donated funds used to support educational services for eligible students; and
WHEREAS, participation in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program is voluntary for states, and students are only eligible to receive scholarships if their state elects to opt into the program; and
WHEREAS, donors may receive federal tax credits regardless of whether Illinois participates in the program; however, unless Illinois opts in, scholarship funds donated by Illinois residents will benefit students in other participating states rather than Illinois students; and
WHEREAS, if Illinois elects to participate, scholarship funds may be used by students in both public and private schools for a wide range of educational services, including tutoring, supplemental instruction, instructional materials and online coursework, educational therapies for students with disabilities, standardized testing and college admission exam fees, and dual-enrollment course fees; and
WHEREAS, participation in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program does not divert or reduce state or federal public education funding, as the scholarships are funded entirely through private donations supported by a federal tax credit representing foregone federal revenue rather than state expenditures; and
WHEREAS, there is no cost to the State of Illinois to participate in this program; and
WHEREAS, bipartisan support continues to grow across the nation with both Democrat and Republican governors choosing to opt-in to the program to strengthen educational opportunities for their state’s children; and
WHEREAS, Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza has endorsed Illinois’ participation in the Education Freedom Tax Credit Program by stating, “Either Illinois students will see hundreds of millions of dollars in new resources supporting education or they will watch from the sidelines as that money flows to Washington and other states. The correct choice is clear. But Illinois is at risk of fumbling this opportunity. And hurting our school communities as a result.”; and
WHEREAS, recent polling indicates overwhelming support by Illinois residents with only 22% of respondents opposed to our state opting in to the program; and
WHEREAS, by the end of February 2026, 27 states have opted-in to the program including: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board urges the Governor of the State of Illinois and the Illinois General Assembly to formally opt the State of Illinois into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program so that Illinois students and families may directly benefit from privately funded educational scholarships; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor, the President of the Illinois Senate, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, and the members of the Illinois General Assembly for their consideration.
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