East Central Reporter

Chris Miller, a State Representative from Illinois, expressed support for the new federal school choice scholarship tax credit program. He urged Democratic lawmakers to prioritize this initiative over special interests. His comments were shared on Facebook.

"The federal school choice scholarship tax credit program begins in 2027 and there is no sunset, unlike Illinois' Invest in Kids tax credit program that sunset at the end of 2023," said Chris G. Miller, according to Facebook. "This is a monumental program and Illinois Democrats need to ditch their special interests groups and support school choice for our kids!"

The debate surrounding school choice and tax credit scholarship programs in Illinois has been contentious. According to Chalkbeat, the state's Invest in Kids Act, initiated in 2017, provided tax credits to donors funding private school scholarships. However, lawmakers allowed the program to expire at the end of 2023 amid significant partisan divisions and broader national debates about vouchers and tax credits in K-12 education reform.

According to the Illinois Department of Revenue and EdChoice, before its conclusion in 2023, Illinois’ Invest in Kids program offered scholarships to approximately 9,656 students in its final year and generated over $57 million in donations. Despite a decline in participation towards its end, most recipients were from low-income backgrounds, indicating mixed but notable demand for such educational options.

A review by Education Week in 2024 revealed that 21 states currently offer tax-credit scholarship programs with varying credit rates (50–100%) and eligibility criteria. The proposed federal Educational Choice for Children Act aims to establish the first national tax credit scholarship program, highlighting a key difference in both scope and funding mechanisms between state and federal models.

Miller's official biography from the Illinois General Assembly notes that he is a Republican representing the 101st District since 2019. He serves on several committees including Economic Opportunity & Equity and has consistently advocated for school choice policies and increased parental control over education decisions.