The Illinois Scholarship Scandal

Teachers unions and Democrats kill a small program that showcases their failure

WSJ editorial. Excerpts:

"Unions want to kill the program (Illinois Invest in Kids scholarship program) because its popularity showcases the failure of the public schools. Invest in Kids had more than 31,000 applications last year, roughly five students for every scholarship it could provide. Every family lined up for a place at a private school is an indictment of a union monopoly that continues to prioritize its power over student learning."

"Black and Hispanic families support the scholarship program in large numbers because they often have children assigned to Illinois schools where less than a third of students are proficient at reading or math"

"The measurable educational shortfalls continue from fourth to eighth grades"

 "teachers at the failing schools are routinely categorized as excellent to ensure their job security."

"Illinois spends an average of more than $16,000 per pupil on its public schools."

"Where did the money go? The net benefit to educational outcomes has been zero. A glance at the National Assessment of Educational Progress for Illinois fourth-graders in 2017 showed 15% of black students were proficient or above in math. In 2022, 12% of black fourth-graders were proficient or above. In reading 15% were proficient in 2017 and 13% in 2022."

"Messrs. Harmon and Welch have each had their political careers funded by more than $1 million in contributions from the state’s teachers unions" (Illinois Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch)

"Mr. Pritzker washed his hands of the choice program when a spokesperson said this month that “the Invest in Kids Act has to pass the General Assembly. If it doesn’t pass that would not be the Governor eliminating it, that would be the General Assembly eliminating it.” On Friday he had the nerve to claim the budget “makes transformative investments in the children and families of Illinois.”"