Letter: Low-income students deserve school choice

LETTER TO EDITOR PRINTED IN CHICAGO TRIBUNE MON. AUGUST 14TH

During the campaign, Gov. Bruce Rauner said that if we don’t get education right, “nothing else matters.” He was absolutely right. And now state lawmakers have the chance to provide parents with a choice and students with a chance by passing a scholarship tax credit program.

This would provide kids from low-income and working-class families across the state the opportunity to attend higher quality or better befitting schools they otherwise could not afford, an initiative that can lead to improved achievement and enhanced outcomes.

School choice has always been a top priority for the rapidly growing Orthodox Jewish community in Illinois, which I represent, and for our many allies across the state who share our belief that every parent should have the opportunity to choose the educational environment, public or private, religious or secular, that best meets his or her child’s needs.

For tens of thousands of students across the state, the scholarship tax credit program is a lifeline.

Illinois’ best chance to get education right is now. I pray it does.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-letters-rauner-scholarship-tax-credit-school-choice-20170814-story.html