SPRINGFIELD—After Illinois’ new Invest in Kids scholarship program attracted more than $36 million in pledged contributions on  Jan. 2, Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed and amended a companion bill, the Chicago Tribune reported Jan. 9.

 

The program aimed to give low- to middle-income students opportunities to attend  non-public schools that best meet their educational goals.

 

The Tribune said Rauner made the changes in a bill updating the state school code to ensure more schools would be eligible for the tax credit help. 

 

Beth Heitkamp, assitant superintendant of Catholic schools in the diocese, gave two presentations about the program at Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford earlier this week.

 

“I am so excited that donors are supporting this new program,” she said Monday, before news of the veto and change.

 

The program “will help more families access a Catholic education.  We want to make sure that donors know that there are still tax credits available for our region,” she said..

 

The Rockford Diocese is in the program’s region two and a small part of region three, Heitkamp said.  

Student applications open on Jan. 24 at www.empowerillinois.org.

 

Taxpayers can contribute up to $1.3 million to eligible organizations and receive an income tax credit equal to 75 percent of their approved contributions. The state caps total yearly contributions at $100 million.

 

“When we unleash the power of private-sector investment incentives like Invest in Kids, great things are possible,” Rauner said. “Within its first hour of going live, more than one-third of all Invest in Kids contributions have been allocated for the 2018 tax year. This outpouring of generosity is truly a testament to the many Illinoisans who believe in offering students and their families a choice in their education.”

 

Taxpayers wishing to contribute to Invest in Kids may apply online through MyTax Illinois, the Illinois Department of Revenue’s free online account management program.

 

Individuals and businesses must apply to the Illinois Department of Revenue to obtain Contribution Authorization Certificates that permit them to make authorized contributions to one of the approved scholarship granting organizations. Those organizations, in turn, provide scholarships for eligible Illinois students to attend qualified non-public schools in Illinois. The application process ensures equal access to the $75 million in tax credits available each year.

 

For more information on the Invest in Kids income tax credits, including bulletins, FAQs and a list of approved scholarship granting organizations, visit Investinkids.illinois.gov. A YouTube video is available on the website to assist taxpayers with MyTax Illinois registration. Questions may be emailed to: REV.PRD@illinois.gov.