The Chicago Board of Education voted on April 8 to urge Governor JB Pritzker not to opt Illinois into a federal tax credit scholarship program backed by former President Donald Trump. The decision came after a debate among board members, with the resolution passing 15-0 and three members abstaining.
The issue is significant as more than half of U.S. states have already joined the program, which provides dollar-for-dollar tax credits for donors contributing up to $1,700 to scholarship-granting nonprofits. These funds can be used for certain educational expenses by families earning up to 300% of the local median income—about $233,000 annually in Chicago. However, it remains unclear if school districts would directly benefit from these funds.
Board president Sean Harden said that leaders are expected “to make statements around what their values are.” Elected board member Ellen Rosenfeld moved to postpone the vote, arguing that discussing the matter privately with Pritzker would be preferable and calling the public nature of the resolution “politically motivated.” She said, “Politics don’t belong in the boardroom.” In response, elected member Jitu Brown said he could not “disagree more,” stating that political debate is part of serving on the board: “If you don’t want to do politics, then you shouldn’t be on the school board.”
Other members expressed uncertainty or concern about acting before hearing directly from state officials. Therese Boyle abstained from voting and questioned why it was taking so long for Pritzker’s office to make a decision: “Before being asked to make a decision on this I wish I could hear from the governor and his team – like why is it taking him so long to make a decision?”
Several organizations—including the Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Families for Public Schools—have opposed joining the program over concerns it could divert students and funding away from public schools. Critics point out that similar programs in other states have mostly benefited affluent families who were already sending children to private schools before voucher programs began.
There has also been support for opting into the program at local levels; according to recent elections in more than two dozen suburban or rural counties where most voters supported Trump in 2024, many residents signaled approval through an advisory ballot question pushed by groups such as Illinois Policy Institute.
As Springfield lawmakers continue their session without finalizing a legislative agenda for education policy this year, observers will watch closely whether Governor Pritzker follows recommendations from both advocates and opponents regarding participation in this federal initiative.
