Opt out of school voucher program

Illinois must opt out of the new federal school voucher program.

Both Oregon and New Mexico’s governors announced that they will not be opting in. In 2018, Arizona voters rejected school vouchers by a wide margin — 65% to 35%. Yet in 2022, state leaders pushed through the nation’s largest voucher program anyway.

The law gives taxpayer-funded vouchers to any family, regardless of income, for private tuition, extracurriculars, or homeschooling. The financial impact of this unregulated program has been disastrous. What was projected to cost $65 million is currently projected to hit $1 billion in taxpayer spending during the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2025.

While private and faith-based schools have a place in our education system, diverting public dollars to fund them undermines our democracy and privatizes a public good. Voucher programs are a failed policy: they drain already underfunded public schools, harming student outcomes. The families who benefit most are those who already send their children to private schools, with voucher tax credits disproportionately favoring higher-income households.

Meanwhile, most low-income and rural students are left behind — vouchers rarely cover full tuition, and private schools are often inaccessible or lack transportation options. The damage to rural schools is particularly severe. Because their fixed costs remain constant regardless of enrollment, the loss of even a few students can destabilize budgets and force program cuts.

Even more troubling, many private schools receiving vouchers discriminate based on race, religion and disability while avoiding the transparency, accountability and oversight required of public schools. This leaves taxpayers with little assurance that public funds are being used responsibly.

The federal voucher law will subsidize the wealthy at the expense of public school students and taxpayers. Urge your representatives to vote for Illinois to opt out.

Donna Limper

Bloomingdale