Thursday, March 25, 2010
ILLINOIS -- Illinois state senators approved a school voucher measure by a vote of 33-20 on Thursday, March 25. Sponsored by Rev. Sen. James Meeks, Senate Bill 2494 would create a pilot school voucher program for students in struggling Chicago public schools.
“This is a huge step forward for school choice, for Illinois, and, most important, for families in need of educational change,” said Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice. “Illinois lawmakers proved they have the courage to give Chicago’s residents an opportunity to escape poorly performing schools. We are happy to be involved with this effort.”
Illinois’ voucher legislation won approval in the full Senate after passing out of committee late Wednesday, March 24, on a vote of 8-3. It next faces the Illinois House of Representatives.
“Thanks to Rev. Sen. Meeks and other leaders in the Senate, Illinois could be the next state to bring safer, quality schooling options to its families in need,” said Collin Hitt, director of education policy for the Illinois Policy Institute. “Now we must do our part to ensure their efforts become a reality. We invite Illinois families to stand with us in this fight for greater educational opportunity.”
The Foundation for Educational Choice is the continuation of the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation, established by the Friedmans in 1996 to promote school choice as the most effective and equitable way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America. The Illinois Policy Institute is a nonpartisan research organization dedicated to supporting free-market principles and liberty-based public policy initiatives for a better Illinois.
Resources from The Foundation for Educational Choice and the Illinois Policy Institute:
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