Bill to improve Invest in Kids Act heads to governor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — A statewide scholarship program designed to help children attend private school is getting an update.
The change to the Invest in Kids Act passed both the house and senate unanimously Thursday, April 7, 2022.
The Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program provides need-based scholarships to kids from low-income and working-class families to attend their best-fit school.
If the new update is signed into law students who received the tax credit scholarship in the previous year are first in line for a scholarship the next year, if they remain eligible.
Other changes to the act include giving qualified schools the ability to offer partial scholarships to families in income tiers above 185% of the federal poverty level.
The scholarship program is funded by Empower Illinois, a non-profit organization that provides low-income and working-class families the opportunity to explore new, quality K-12 education options through private school scholarships and advocating for innovation in Illinois education.
Since 2018, the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program has awarded more than 28,000 scholarships totaling more than $250 million.
The bill still needs to be signed by Governor Pritzker.
