The Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program is slated to end or “sunset” at the close of this year, and the Midwest Jesuits have joined Cardinal Blase J. Cupich in support of its continuation. The Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program is a need-based program allowing people to donate to our schools and, in return, receive a tax credit from the state.
“I join Cardinal J. Blase Cupich and the Catholic Bishops of Illinois in supporting The Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program,” said V. Rev. Karl J. Kiser, Provincial of the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). The Jesuits have four high schools and a middle school in Chicago and the surrounding area: Loyola Academy, Saint Ignatius College Prep, Cristo Rey, Christ the King, and Chicago Jesuit Academy.”
“Serving nearly 4700 students, over 1000 of whose families meet federal guidelines for living in poverty, our schools educate students on the southwest and west sides of Chicago, as well as its northern suburbs,” said Fr. Kiser. “Three of these schools — Cristo Rey, Christ the King and Chicago Jesuit Academy — exclusively serve students and families of modest means who are living in resilient communities impacted by historical disinvestment. The other two, Loyola Academy and Saint Ignatius College Prep, serve a significant number of students who meet the financial qualifications of this scholarship. Jesuit schools serve both Catholic families seeking a Catholic education for their children, as well as families of other faith traditions who value Jesuit education. Jesuit schools in Illinois perform a public service educating nearly 4700 students formed to be leaders in our Illinois communities. The Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program gives families a choice for their children: to attend Jesuit schools that provide a college preparatory, values-based education for the whole child.”
The Midwest Jesuits favor this giving mechanism to support our students and families. We encourage Illinois residents to reach out to their lawmakers asking them to continue the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program by keeping it in the budget and removing the “sunset” provision.
Please use the following links to help you find and contact your state legislators:
www.illinoispolicy.org/maps/illinois-house/
www.illinoispolicy.org/maps/illinois-senate/