Great name, bad idea for school funding
With a great name like Invest in Kids, how can that be bad? Actually, quite a lot!
One problem is that the Invest in Kids Act diverts up to $75 million dollars in tax revenue from the state budget. This is happening while 80% of Illinois public schools are not adequately funded. Even though the legislature passed the Evidence-Based Funding Formula several years back, Illinois public schools are still waiting for the full amount of money from the state. This particularly impacts children in community schools with lower valued properties.
A fundamental principle of the United States is separation of church and state. Invest in Kids Act allows our taxpayer dollars to be used for religious schools. In fact, 94% of voucher recipients in Illinois are attending religiously affiliated schools. Many of these schools are not held to the same standards of accountability or transparency as public schools. Private schools don't have to make their academic standards public or reveal what their curriculum is. While parents are asking for parental control those options are at risk at private schools.
Additionally, while 9,600 students are using vouchers, the state's 874,000 low-income students are left with diminished resources. Public schools open their doors to all kids without discriminating on the basis of religion, disability status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Private schools can chose which students they want to accept.
The Invest in Kids Act has a great name, but negatively impacts our state and the vast majority of students. The diversion of $75 million dollars from the state for individual taxpayers benefit is a shameful result. Those individuals can still donate to their favorite school and enjoy a federal charitable deduction.
Illinois cannot afford diverting money from its budget. That money needs to be directed to the Evidence-Based Funding Formula and benefit the majority of students across the whole state who have been without for too long.
Laura Davis
Inverness