FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

March 17, 2026 - 18:37

Illinois students could soon benefit from scholarship money to help them find a tutor, attend ACT or SAT prep sessions, pay tuition, obtain special education services, or assist with other academic needs. This potential support hinges on Governor J.B. Pritzker's decision to allow the state's schoolchildren to benefit from the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program.

The program, established at the federal level, would provide tax credits to individuals and businesses who donate to nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations would then distribute the funds directly to families, offering them flexibility in addressing a wide range of educational expenses. Proponents argue this would empower parents to find the academic support and services that best fit their child's unique learning journey, whether in public or private educational settings.

Advocates are urging the governor to enact the necessary state-level provisions to unlock this potential resource. They emphasize that the scholarships could be a crucial tool in helping students recover from pandemic-related learning loss and in providing targeted assistance where it is needed most. The decision now rests with the state's leadership to determine if Illinois families will gain access to this new avenue of educational support.