February 7, 2018 12:15 pm

Dear Catholic School Board Members and Parents:

Efforts to undo the new Tax Credit Scholarship program are already under way in the Illinois State Legislature.

Senate Bill 2236 attacks the Tax Credit Scholarship program that allows low-income and working-class children to receive scholarships to attend a school of their choice by tying the program to the unpredictable budget process EVERYyear.

Tens of thousands of parents have just applied for the new scholarships for their children, with the grants set to be awarded this spring for the 2018-2019 school year. People around the state have already pledged over $45 million for scholarships. This legislation seeks to put the brakes on the program before it has even started.

SB 2236 passed out of the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 30 and could be called for a vote on the Senate floor at any time. NOW is the time to contact your state senator, urging him/her to vote “NO” on SB 2236.Look up and call your state senator here — the phone number with the 217 area code is the Springfield office

This important program will be an immediate benefit to our diocesan schools. It will allow thousands of parents and families to exercise choice over where they want to send their children to school. Please act immediately!

Sincerely yours,

Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., Ph.D.

Superintendent of Catholic

jbelmonte@dioceseofjoliet.org

Dear Catholic School Board Members and Parents:

Efforts to undo the new Tax Credit Scholarship program are already under way in the Illinois State Legislature.

Senate Bill 2236 attacks the Tax Credit Scholarship program that allows low-income and working-class children to receive scholarships to attend a school of their choice by tying the program to the unpredictable budget process EVERYyear.

Tens of thousands of parents have just applied for the new scholarships for their children, with the grants set to be awarded this spring for the 2018-2019 school year. People around the state have already pledged over $45 million for scholarships. This legislation seeks to put the brakes on the program before it has even started.

SB 2236 passed out of the Senate Education Committee on Jan. 30 and could be called for a vote on the Senate floor at any time. NOW is the time to contact your state senator, urging him/her to vote “NO” on SB 2236.Look up and call your state senator here — the phone number with the 217 area code is the Springfield office

This important program will be an immediate benefit to our diocesan schools. It will allow thousands of parents and families to exercise choice over where they want to send their children to school. Please act immediately!

Sincerely yours,

Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., Ph.D.

Superintendent of Catholic

jbelmonte@dioceseofjoliet.org