Reluctant Pritzker should defy teachers unions, help kids

If the governor is serious about wanting the best for K-12 students, he should 'opt in.' The deadline for states to opt into a federal tax-credit program supporting K-12 education scholarships is Jan. 1. Although he's had months to decide whether Illinois will participate in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he continues to study the issue. Given the impending November election, Pritzker can be expected to continue to dither. After all, teachers unions that support him despise any program that allows children to escape failing public schools in search of a better option. At the same time, the November 2026 election might not be as crucial as another November election — the one in 2028 — that has drawn serious interest from Pritzker. Pritzker knows his politics, so his reluctance to cross his teachers-union compatriots is understandable. But he is certainly not correct when it comes to education policy and the importance of giving young people the best opportunities to obtain a good education. For those who don't know, the program is a small part of major federal tax legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump. It grants federal, not state, taxpayers a 100 percent annual tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations. In that respect, this federal program operates along the lines of the now-defunct state 'Invest in Kids' program that Pritzker and legislative Democrats, acting at the behest of teachers unions, killed in 2023. The law allows state governors to opt in or out. So far, Pritzker is opting out, as have most Democratic governors. Two Democrats who have opted in are New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Hochul, like Polis, explained she opted in because she decided the program was good for her state's K-12 students. Illinois kids won't be eligible for a scholarship if Pritzker doesn't opt in. Neither will those of other Democratic state governors who ignore this opportunity because of their understandable disdain for Trump. Teachers unions, of course, continue their attacks on the program and sometimes play fast and loose with the facts. 'The federal plan ... takes tax dollars away from public schools and gives that money to private schools,' said teachers union President Karl Goeke. That's not exactly true — this federal program that doesn't cost Illinois a dime. It may be a colorable argument in the sense that public schools that receive state aid based on their student populations will receive less aid if they have fewer students. But qualifying for less state aid based on a smaller student population is not the same as having money 'taken away' and redirected elsewhere. Unfortunately, this policy fights will be resolved by political muscle and individual politicians who decide what best serves their political interests. For now, count Pritzker as an 'opt out' vote. But it's not over until it's over. Politicians may not see the light until they feel the heat. Supporters of this educational option — meaning voters — should let the governor know how they feel and urge him to get on board this opportunity to help K-12 find a better education option.