DeKalb Times

In a May 23 Facebook post, Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) pushed for the continuation of the Invest in Kids Act.

“I have been a vocal supporter of this program since it was initiated, and I remain fully committed to ensuring its longevity in Illinois,” he wrote on Facebook. “Democrats that are beholden to public education union bosses are being pressured to end the program, but the success of Invest in Kids cannot be denied. Every legislator who truly wants every child to succeed should be fighting to keep Invest in Kids in place.”

In his Facebook post, Chesney shared a link to an expanded statement about the Illinois Invest in Kids Act. Chesney said, in part: “Invest in Kids provides funds that allow lower-income students in underperforming schools to improve their chances for academic success by moving to a different school. Since scholarships began being distributed in 2018, nearly every legislator has heard numerous success stories about how the program changed the life of a child for the better.”

The Invest in Kids Act, also known as Public Act 100-0465, provides income tax credits to individuals who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations which give scholarships to eligible Illinois students to attend non-public schools in the state.

Taxpayers can get up to a 75% tax credit for their contribution to a scholarship granting organization.

According to Chalkbeat Chicago, "Students who receive the scholarships come from low-income families. Under the tax credit scholarship law, students must come from households making less than 300% of the federal poverty level — which is about $90,000 for a family of four in 2023. Once the child receives a scholarship, the family income cannot exceed 400% of the federal poverty level, or about $120,000 for a family of four. Of the students who received scholarships to attend private school in 2021-22, 57.6% were white, 29.7% were Latino, and 17.8% were Black, according to the state’s report."

Chesney has represented the 89th District since December 2018. He has served as an elected member of the Freeport City Council and has been a past board member of the Regional Access  Mobilization Project (RAMP)—an organization that provides support services and advocacy for people with disabilities. He is also a former mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.