If ever a piece of legislation was misnamed, it was the Invest in Kids Act. Instead of investing in public education for all kids, voucher programs like the IIK tax credit scholarship program divert resources from our under-funded public schools and don’t improve academic outcomes for voucher recipients.
The Illinois General Assembly passed this legislation with the intent to sunset it after five years. During that time, more than $75 million has been diverted from public education to schools that don’t even have to comply with the Illinois School Code.
Let’s make sure our public schools are adequately funded before shifting tax dollars to voucher programs.
The League of Women Voters has taken a brave stance in opposing the renewal of this legislation. I hope our legislators listen to them.
Mary Ann Porucznik
Oak Park