(WSIL) -- Illinois lawmakers have less than a day remaining in their fall veto sessions to pass a bill that renews a scholarship program that helps low-income students pay for private school.
The Invest in Kids Scholarship Program was created in 2017 in a bipartisan vote from lawmakers. Since then, the group Empower Illinois has given over 40,000 scholarships according to president Anthony Holter.
"All parents and families should be able to find that right fit for their student knowing that one size doesn't fit all whether that's a traditional public school or a public charter school or a private school," Holter said.
The program is set to expire at the end of the year if legislators don't move to pass a bill by the end of the fall veto sessions on Thursday. Holter says the program opens new doors for kids to reach their purpose and potential.
"If you care about kids and education and the future, this is something that you should check out," Holter said.
The program is funded by private donors who in turn receive a 75% tax credit for each scholarship. Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said the move was 'bad policy'.
Montgomery argues that the state needs to stop giving 'tax gifts' for the wealthy and instead invest in the state's schools.
"So you're giving huge tax breaks to the very wealthy and in that bargain you're taking that money out of our public schools and we have a $4-$5 billion shortfall," Montgomery said.
Montgomery believes public schools are underfunded and that putting more emphasis on funding those schools will help families in the long run.
"More special needs kids would get what they need. You'd have better transportation. More fully-outfitted buildings," Montgomery said." All the things that everybody wants for their child we could have."
IFT and the Illinois Education Association issued a joint statement saying that there's no data from the state that proves the program is benefitting students.
from the Brookings Institute argues that these kind of voucher programs actually reduce student achievement.
By law, the Illinois State Board of Education is required to submit annual reports showing if the program is seeing positive results. The state plans to release its findings in February after the act is renewed or expired.
Holter believes lawmakers should renew the act despite the lack of data.
"We cannot create this uncertainty for kids and families simply because that assessment hasn't been completed," Holter said. "If you care about kids and education and the future this is something that you should check out."
