HR0289 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0289 LRB101 12096 MST 59645 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Invest in Kids program was enacted in 2017 by the Illinois General Assembly to create a scholarship option for economically-challenged young people and their families; and

WHEREAS, Scholarship benefits provided to young people and their families through the Invest in Kids program requires the participation of the private sector; benefactors are encouraged, through a State income tax credit, to make donations to scholarship granting organizations; and

WHEREAS, The Invest in Kids law requires that this scholarship money go to the neediest students first; as a result, these organizations fund scholarship programs that are targeted to economically-challenged, promising, gifted students; and

WHEREAS, For Yvonne Camarillo's family, they now can have their child Adriana attend kindergarten at St. Agnes of Bohemia School in the Little Village community of Chicago, providing her a high quality school that fits her needs in a safe and culturally appropriate environment; and

WHEREAS, For Lakisha Partridge's family, the scholarship allows their 3rd grade child, Jeremiah, to flee constant bullying in his school and now attend St. Leonard School in Berwyn, where he is treated with respect and is placed at his appropriate high academic level; and

WHEREAS, Melody Healy now has her daughter, Ariana, attending Alpine Academy in Rockford as a first-grade student, where she receives a quality education at an opportune time given her family's personal and financial challenges; the tax credit scholarship is a blessing; and

WHEREAS, Shadier Gheith's children, Maryam, Sarra, and Shaymah, attend the Aqsa School in Bridgeview, providing them with the community values and beliefs that are consistent with their family's faith; and

WHEREAS, For Elliot Cohen and his children, Meira, Shalom, Chaya, and Binyomin, who attend various schools in the Agudath Israel Network, the children's scholarships represent an opportunity for education as part of a community; and

WHEREAS, Catchet Rodriguez's family is now able to have their two children, Alivia and Isaac (5th and 2nd grade respectively), attend St. Mark School in Peoria without the financial burden to the entire family, while knowing that their children are receiving the best education available; and

WHEREAS, Strong families and strong educational achievement are essential elements for Illinois and its people as our State deals with its challenges of jobs, life, and productivity, and the Invest in Kids program is targeted to these challenges; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Invest in Kids program provides hope to young people and their families throughout Illinois and should be fully funded with no cutbacks in the FY20 Illinois budget; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this resolution be delivered to Senate President John Cullerton and Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan.