South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) has expressed frustration over House Speaker Chris Welch’s decision not to call a vote on the extension of the Invest in Kids Scholarship during the Veto Session.

“Speaker Welch refused to call the Invest in Kids Scholarship extension for a vote during Veto Session. This popular program has helped thousands of low-income students get a better education in Illinois with tens of thousands on a waiting list. Families deserve better!” Wilhour said on Facebook.

Wilhour’s statements came as the House failed to call a bill that would have extended the popular tax scholarship program. The Invest In Kids scholarship program, which has been widely popular for aiding predominantly minority low-income students, faced opposition from teachers’ unions. The decision not to allocate funds for the program has put the educational future of 9,600 economically disadvantaged children in jeopardy.

Most beneficiaries of this program are minority students from low-income families who live in struggling school districts and rely on this scholarship for access to quality education. State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) advocated passionately for extending this scholarship program, emphasizing the urgency of preserving educational opportunities for deserving students. Despite support from Niemerg and other lawmakers, Speaker Welch adjourned the session without calling a vote on the bill.

Illinois has become an outlier as it is now the only state to roll back public funding for school choice following Welch's move not to extend the Invest In Kids program. Interestingly, prominent figures such as Welch himself, Senate President Don Harmon, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker, all known for sending their children to private schools, have been criticized for their lack of action toward saving this important program.

On another note, Illinois' withdrawal from providing public funding towards school choice through canceling Invest In Kids provoked disappointment among advocates who champion diverse educational options available to families across states.

While some mourned its demise, others welcomed the end of the program. Notably, The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) celebrated the decision to terminate the program, with IFT President Dan Montgomery expressing strong support for prioritizing public education and allocating resources to public schools.