Empower Illinois understands and appreciates the effort to resolve the recognition issue facing many private K-12 schools in Illinois. All quality private schools deserve access to the Tax Credit Scholarship Program provided by the Invest in Kids Act.
After the passage of SB1947, many private schools found themselves investigating how to participate in the tax credit program.
While many were registered with the Illinois State Board of Education, a significant number had not pursued recognition, a voluntary process many deemed unnecessary in the private school marketplace.
While Governor Rauner’s amendatory veto of SB444 aimed to allow these schools to participate this year, it went too far, decreasing the standard schools need to meet in order to participate, and imperiling the positive funding opportunities of SB444.
Empower Illinois believes that a compromise can be reached, which will increase the number of schools that can participate in the program without decreasing their quality, instead improving the standards that allow participation in the program. The compromise, if signed by the Governor, will also allow SB444 to become law.
EI urges legislators to refile SB444, with the following amendment added:
“Qualified school” means a non-public school located in Illinois and recognized by the Board pursuant to Section 2-3.25o of the School Code or accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the Board. A non-public school shall become a qualified school immediately upon being recognized by the Board or immediately upon having their accreditation status approved by the Board.
Accreditation, like recognition, is a detailed review process, but it goes further — it not only looks at the health and safety at non-public schools, but also a school’s academic quality.
Further, it is our position that if a school is recognized or accredited in the 2017-2018 school year, IDOR should allow SGOs to list these schools for donors to donate to, and for students to receive scholarships. Of course, SGOs would not be able to submit payment to these schools until they officially become recognized or upon adoption of the suggested amendment, accredited too.
This amendment would not unnecessarily hold up critical public-school funding in Illinois while also increasing the number, and quality of non-public schools that can participate in the first year of the tax credit scholarship program.
It’s a win-win for all; especially the children for whom are our priority.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 9:34 am:
=== It’s a win-win for all ===
“Win-win” in an election year. Good luck with that. I’m expecting more finger pointing and politician squirming before the issue gets settled.
- Ole' Nelson - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 9:44 am:
I predict that we will be seeing this veto being used as a political hammer against the governor for some time before we move on to the solution phase. Governor Rauner holds up school funding is just too good of a headline to waste in an election year.
- educationfirst - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 9:46 am:
When looking at accreditation, it is incumbent that the school be able to financially stand on it’s own. Not requiring adequate financing would be a mistake.
- My New Handle - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 9:59 am:
“… especially the children for whom are our priority.”
Some tortured syntax there. Can’t get those kids some learnin’ soon enough!
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 10:47 am:
=All quality private schools deserve access to the Tax Credit Scholarship Program provided by the Invest in Kids Act.=
No they don’t. Public money for private schools is wrong unless they are following the same rules as public schools.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 10:53 am:
It sounds like a possible way out. hardly matters, as long as rauner can claim credit. Which he will.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:06 am:
I truly believe the AV was not about the “recognition/registered” issue.
His AV was a perfidy to cover
His next hostage taking
K-12 school funding
Again
He needs a crisis
To create leverage
The 36 school thing was a flimsy lie.
He does not want function
He does not want stability
He wants destruction
To issue massive layoffs
Of unionized public school teachers
Of unionized state workers
The more financial devastation
The larger hit to public unions
What better way to show Union impotence
Before Janus hits in June
I wish people would realize that Rauner
Never will govern
Or
Compromise to achieve the temporary better.
He wants the crisis
- Dee Lay - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 11:28 am:
The accreditation idea would work, but good luck finding a list of state-approved accrediting bodies. Want to guess how many of those approved bodies would also accredit degree mills like ITT Tech?
If I wanted a grant from the state to build a trail or run an after-school program, I would have to abide by the state’s rules for using the funds.
If you want to play with state money, you have to play by the state’s rules.
- Generic Drone - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:13 pm:
Well somebody has to come up with a solution, because Rauner is not in charge.
- Generic Drone - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
Just thought of Rauner’s campaign slogan. Rauner in 2018.
I’ll create the crisis, you come up with the solution. Governin, Rauner style.
- Mocking Jay - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 5:03 pm:
Sounds like all you need is deep pockets and a pretentious name and you can start and education policy group in Illinois. Get yourself a fancy website and you are as good as gold.
Rauner should start a new group called Learnin’ Illinois.
- www.yunjungm.com - Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 1:52 am:
This is part of a businesses branding. http://www.yunjungm.com/comment/html/?3278.html