SPRINGFIELD – The following statement on the new Invest in Kids Act proposal is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Al Llorens:
“We believe the new Invest in Kids voucher scheme proposal acknowledges that more white students have been helped by the program than anyone else, even though proponents have tried to tout the program as helping Black and Brown students. We feel this is too little too late. For six years, the State of Illinois has been refunding donors to this program up to 75 percent of what they gave. It’s a flawed program and it puts the state into a precarious position of funding private schools while continuing to underfund 80 percent of public schools. Public dollars belong in public schools – schools that are held accountable, that educate ALL students and that exist for the common good.”
STOP VOUCHERS IN ILLINOIS – TAKE ACTION NOW!
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At 135,000 members strong, the Illinois Education Association (IEA) is the largest union in Illinois. The IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty and support staff, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
