We asked readers whether Illinois should join the federal program that funds private school scholarships through tax credits? Here’s what you said, lightly edited for clarity:
“Illinois should opt into [it]. We do not allow businesses to have monopolies because we have learned that competition improves products and services. … Public schools will improve with competition from private schools.”
— Jim Winikates
“If Illinois opted in, I fear for the fate of public education. It is already in dire straits as we allow local taxes to dictate the quality of schools in an area, so we are already living under a segregated reality of achievement.”
— Kat Katsma
“Illinois should join the scholarship program. But since CTU campaign contributions are more important to many politicians than helping kids, it won’t.”
— James Craven
“Every dollar taken away from public funds means less for the programs like special education … while private schools can (and nearly always do) selectively kick out or deny children [requiring special education] because the private schools either do not have the functional ability/capacity or the will to risk grade point averages (which in turn they use to promote themselves against public schools).”
— Dave Weinert
“Every child in Chicago needs an alternative to CPS.”
— Jack Burns
“The GOP doesn’t like public education because they don’t really see a benefit for an educated electorate.”
— Michael Reich
“I do not understand the governor’s hesitancy. The program offers parents an opportunity to send their child to a school that, in their opinion, offers a better chance of success. It is a federal tax deduction and does not affect public school funding.”
— John Shanahan
“Illinois should join the scholarship deduction program. The opposition is led by the teachers union, whose real interest is maintaining unnecessary schools, higher salaries and not quality education.”
— Joe Paszczyk
“We should not succumb to a federal government whose goal is to gut public education.”
— Jordan Mainzer
“The children of Illinois should have all sorts of options for them to get a better education. With federal assistance it becomes more feasible for low-income households.”
— Larry Wankovsky
“These tax credits cause fewer dollars to be available to under resourced public schools. People have the right to send their children to private schools but not with public money.
— Robert Gottlieb