Poll: Most Illinois Voters Support Opting Into Federal Scholarship Program

But it's up to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to decide if Illinois will participate in the federal tax credit program.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A new poll shows that nearly 55% of Illinois voters support the state opting into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, which would allow taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations. The poll found support across all ages, regions, races, and political ideologies in Illinois.

Why it matters

Opting into the federal program would provide additional educational resources and opportunities for Illinois students, including public school students who may need extra academic support or access to things like tutoring, test prep, and dual enrollment. However, the decision is up to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Illinois has until January 1st to opt in.

The details

The poll surveyed 579 registered Illinois voters from February 9-11, 2026. It found that 55% of respondents favor the state opting into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, while only about 30% oppose it. Support was highest among younger voters aged 18-30, but a majority of voters across all age groups, regions, races, and political ideologies favor opting in. The scholarships can be used for a variety of educational services and materials, and would not divert any public school funding.

  • Illinois has until January 1, 2027 to opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program.
  • The poll was conducted from February 9-11, 2026.

The players

J.B. Pritzker

The governor of Illinois who will decide whether the state opts into the federal scholarship program.

Illinois Policy Institute

The organization that commissioned the poll on Illinois voters' support for the federal scholarship program.

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What’s next

Gov. J.B. Pritzker will need to decide by January 1, 2027 whether Illinois will opt into the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, which would allow the state's students to begin taking advantage of the additional educational resources and opportunities starting next year.

The takeaway

With strong bipartisan support from Illinois voters, the decision for the state to opt into the federal scholarship program seems clear. Doing so would provide a valuable boost to educational resources and opportunities for students across Illinois, without any cost to the state's public schools.