In 1999 Cardinal George met with George Ryan and told him the Chicago Archdiocese Schools were facing a financial crisis. While ensuring the viability of private schools is not generally the job of the state, Ryan felt he had little choice. The Archdiocese educates nearly 123,000 children in Cook County and a significant change would have flooded many public schools as well as created a challenge for Chicago in retaining many of its public safety force.
Cardinal George didn’t go asking for full blown vouchers, but instead for a tax credit to help families on the edge. Ryan pushed through a $500 tax credit for educational expenses of $2,250 that is available to all parents.
Phil Kadner reports the lege is looking at repealing the tuition tax credit. Kadner argues that is a reasonable given the state’s inability to help public schools out.
Normally I would agree with this, but even a $500 tax credit has significant effects on the ability of marginal incomed parents to send kids to private schools and that marginal help, is the shot in the arm the Archdiocese probably needs to keep the number of schools at a reasonable level. If the Archdiocese has to significantly decrease the number of spots, the public schools will be hit hard by the increase in the number of students. That $500 credit is money well spent.