IL House Speaker: ‘not even close’ to school choice legislation

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The speaker of the Illinois House says he would put school choice legislation up for a vote if 60 Democrats in his chamber supported it.

Starting in 2027, private donations of up to $1,700 for school choice scholarships will be eligible for 100% federal tax credits.

Each state has the choice to opt in.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, said school choice is a tough issue in the state legislature.

“I have said, in our chamber, if you can get 60 Democrats to support it, we put it on the board and call the bill, but there’s more work to do because they’re not even close,” Welch told The Center Square.

At Tuesday’s transit bill signing in Chicago, Welch said school choice supporters need to build coalitions the way lawmakers did with transit legislation.

“It took coalitions to get us here. If they get to 60 Democrats in support of it, I’d be happy to put it on the board,” Welch said.

Bills need 60 total votes to pass the Illinois House. Republican members have already expressed their support for school choice. There are 40 Republicans in the Illinois House. Including Welch, there are 78 Democrats.

Welch recently posted pictures on social media with members of a Catholic school community located on Chicago’s South Side.

Welch said he met with Leo High School Principal Shaka Rawls and the boys choir that appeared on national television this year.

“I think Leo High School, the Leo High School choir, Dr. Rawls and everyone affiliated with that great institution are doing remarkable work,” Welch said.

The speaker said he also attended a Leo event.

“They just celebrated their 100th anniversary. I was at that gala, and I’m just so proud of what they’re doing,” Welch said.

Rawls told The Center Square earlier this year that the school’s cost per student is more than $15,000 a year, but tuition is only $9,300.

Rawls said school choice legislation would be life-changing for Leo.

In a recent blog post, Cato Institute Scholar Colleen Hroncich said bureaucrats and policymakers make the big decisions in public school systems.

“School choice flips this dynamic, shifting power to parents, who know their kids best,” Hroncich wrote.

Leo has posted 100% graduation rates for more than a decade.

Greg Bishop and Catrina Barker contributed to this story.