Chicago School Board Votes Against Federal Tax-Credit Scholarship Program

Board members cite concerns over diverting public funds to private education

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:57pm

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A cinematic painting of an empty school hallway with warm lighting and deep shadows, featuring a lone student's backpack left behind on a bench, conveying a sense of melancholy and uncertainty about the future of public schools.The Chicago Board of Education's vote against a federal tax-credit scholarship program reflects broader concerns over the future of public education funding.Chicago Today

The Chicago Board of Education has approved a resolution calling on Governor JB Pritzker to reject the Trump administration's federal tax-credit scholarship program, which would allow donors to receive tax credits for contributing to scholarship-granting nonprofits that provide tuition assistance for private school students. The board argues that public dollars should be used for public schools, not diverted to private education.

Why it matters

The tax-credit program has stirred fierce opposition from public school advocates and the Chicago Teachers Union, who view it as a threat to funding for public education. The Chicago Board of Education's resolution reflects the broader debate over school choice policies and the role of public versus private education.

The details

Under the federal tax-credit scholarship program, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, donors can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for up to $1,700 for contributions to scholarship-granting nonprofits. Those groups can then use the money to provide scholarships for private school tuition and other education-related expenses, including homeschooling costs. While some Chicago Public School students could potentially receive scholarship funding for resources like tutoring or after-school activities, there are outstanding questions about how the money can be accessed.

  • The Chicago Board of Education approved the resolution on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
  • Donors can begin claiming the tax credits in January 2027.

The players

Chicago Board of Education

The governing body of the Chicago Public Schools system, which voted to approve the resolution against the federal tax-credit scholarship program.

Governor JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who has yet to decide whether to opt into the federal tax-credit scholarship program.

Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)

The teachers' union in Chicago, which is staunchly opposed to the tax-credit program and has backed many of the board members who voted for the resolution.

Karen Zaccor

An appointed member of the Chicago Board of Education representing District 4A on the North Side.

Ellen Rosenfeld

An elected member of the Chicago Board of Education representing District 4B.

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What they’re saying

“Public dollars are for public schools. Point blank, period. We are the stewards of those public dollars. Money pays for what we give our students — so this is about the students.”

— Karen Zaccor, Appointed Board Member, District 4A

“It's a politically-motivated resolution, and politics don't belong in a boardroom. Let's go build relationships. Let's go talk to the governor and ask him to oppose it.”

— Ellen Rosenfeld, Elected Board Member, District 4B

“If you don't want to do politics, then you shouldn't be on the school board because everything here is political.”

— Jitu Brown, Elected Board Member, District 5A

What’s next

Governor Pritzker is expected to make a decision on whether to opt into the federal tax-credit scholarship program in the coming months.

The takeaway

The Chicago Board of Education's resolution reflects the ongoing debate over the role of public versus private education, with concerns that the tax-credit program could divert much-needed funding away from public schools. The decision by Governor Pritzker will be closely watched as it could have significant implications for the future of education funding in Illinois.