Bill > HB4201

This bill establishes the Educational Choice for Illinois Children Act, which aims to leverage a new federal tax credit program to support school choice. The bill finds that Illinois students are significantly underperforming in math and reading according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), with over 60% of students below proficient in these subjects. It voluntarily elects the state to participate in a federal tax credit program under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code, which offers individuals a tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship granting organizations. The State Board of Education is authorized to certify and submit a list of qualifying scholarship granting organizations to the U.S. Treasury, with a requirement to publish this list annually starting January 1, 2027. The bill argues that school choice should not be limited to wealthy families and that scholarship programs can help students access educational environments that better meet their needs, without additional cost to the state. This legislation is seen as a way to provide more educational opportunities for students and potentially address the state's educational challenges by supporting alternative school funding mechanisms.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4201&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104