Chicago School Board Votes Against Federal Student Aid Program

Board resolution urges governor to reject program that would provide donor money for academic needs of thousands of Chicago students.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:34am

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty school hallway bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually illustrating the solitude and contemplation surrounding the Chicago Board of Education’s decision to deny students additional academic support.The Chicago Board of Education’s decision to reject a federal program that would provide donor money for student academic needs leaves many Chicago families without access to critical educational resources.Chicago Today

The Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution 15-0 with 3 abstentions, urging Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and state lawmakers to reject a federal program that would provide donor money for academic support to thousands of K-12 Chicago Public School students. The board cited concerns about diverting public funds to private education, despite the program being funded by voluntary taxpayer donations eligible for federal tax credits.

Why it matters

The board’s decision goes against the interests of many Chicago students who could benefit from additional academic resources and support. If the state opts out, Illinois residents will miss out on accessing this pool of donated education funding, which would flow to other states instead.

The details

The federal program would allow taxpayers to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for qualified contributions to tax-exempt scholarship-granting organizations. This money could then be used by K-12 students for tutoring, test fees, career coaching, books, and other academic needs. However, the Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution opposing the program, with some members citing concerns about diverting public funds, despite the program being entirely funded by voluntary private donations.

  • The Chicago Board of Education resolution passed on April 11, 2026.
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has until January 1, 2027 to decide whether to opt the state into the federal program.

The players

Chicago Board of Education

The governing body of the Chicago Public Schools system, which voted 15-0 with 3 abstentions to pass a resolution urging the Illinois governor to reject a federal program that would provide donor money for academic support to Chicago students.

J.B. Pritzker

The Governor of Illinois, who has until January 1, 2027 to decide whether to opt the state into the federal program that would allow Illinois residents to access donated education funding.

Jennifer Custer

A member of the Chicago Board of Education who indicated she has seen a lot of community interest in the federal program and that the feedback she’s heard is ‘50-50 for and against”.

Ellen Rosenfeld

A member of the Chicago Board of Education who motioned to table the resolution indefinitely, arguing that the issue belongs on the board’s legislative agenda instead.

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What they’re saying

“I’ve seen a lot of community interest and the feedback I’ve heard is 50-50 for and against.”

— Jennifer Custer, Chicago Board of Education member

“I believe this issue belongs on our legislative agenda.”

— Ellen Rosenfeld, Chicago Board of Education member

What’s next

Governor Pritzker has until January 1, 2027 to decide whether to opt Illinois into the federal program that would provide donor money for academic support to Chicago students.

The takeaway

The Chicago Board of Education’s decision to oppose the federal program denies thousands of Chicago students access to additional academic resources and support, despite the program being funded entirely by voluntary private donations. This move goes against the interests of many Chicago families and could result in Illinois residents missing out on this pool of education funding if the state opts out.