Illinois adopted a DeVos-style tax credit plan as part of a school funding deal, and corporations and the rich lined up to collect credits from taxation, which in turn pays for private and religious schools.
The plan reduces tax revenues, obviously, to fund non public schools.
What a disgrace!
Bruce Rauner is the Donald Trump of Illinois.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
OMG and holy cow.
Thanks, Diane. You said it all, “What a disgrace! Bruce Rauner is the Donald Trump of Illinois.”
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The entire state of Illinois has gone to crap. From the disgusting windy city chicago and the hell hole it has become to emmanuel rahm and his cronies destroying life for so many in the city. This place has really become a sht house
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Thank you for following this story, which on Monday devolved dramatically with an AV (Amendatory Veto) by the gov of a clean-up bill to SB 1947, the new school funding bill that passed last summer. The gov made release of new funding contingent on altering the status of 36 (or maybe 250, nobody seems able to clarify the actual number) private schools currently “registered” to essentially “recognized” status so they’d be eligible to receive “scholarship” funds without actual recognition, which takes a couple years on average, and includes submission of safety plans/a site visit by ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education).
It thus seems possible that the new funding formula for ALL Illinois public schools will be delayed–or not even implemented at all in 2017-2018–as a result of x-number of private schools trying to jump the queue and become eligible for funds. It’s a total mess.
See https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/democrat-backs-rauners-scholarship-veto-but-govs-school-list-raises-questions/
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The biggest disgrace is that the Illinois state legislature is dominated by Democrats. So, as despicable as billionaire businessman Republican Governor Bruce Rauner is, especially for holding the state budget hostage for years and thus letting important social programs die as a result, such as services for seniors and jobs held by workers in those programs, he is far from being the only bad guy who is selling out public school students by diverting much needed tax dollars for public education to private and religious schools.
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Most important and most devestating line for YEARS: “The biggest disgrace is that the…legislature is dominated by Democrats.”
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(not meaning that Democrats shouldn’t be in charge but that even when they have been in charge our public school system has been assaulted and devastated)
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Here is the part that is scary with policies that allow public funds to flow to private schools. In Illinois and elsewhere there are numerous hate groups, and some will have the drive to capture funds for schools. Here is a recent list in Illinois from the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Creativity Movement, headquarters in Bloomington: Neo-Nazi
United Dixie White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, statewide: KKK
Sons & Daughters of Liberty, statewide: white nationalist
Soldiers of Odin, statewide: anti-Muslim
Ku Klos Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, statewide: KKK
White Boys Society, statewide: white nationalist
White Boy Society, statewide: white nationalist
Divine International Church of the Web, Morton: Christian identity
Illinois Family Institute Tri-County chapter, Peoria: anti-LGBT
New Black Panther Party, Springfield: Black separatist
Aryan Nations Sadistic Souls MC, Canton: Neo-Nazi
Aryan Nations Sadistic Souls MC, Taylorville: Neo-Nazi
Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, Naperville: anti-LGBT
Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment (H.O.M.E.), Downers Grove: anti-LGBT
Hostile Class Productions, Burbank: hate music
Aryan Nations Sadistic Souls MC, Wood River: Neo-Nazi
Illinois Family Institute, Carol Stream: anti-LGBT
Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Clay City: KKK
America First Committee, Lyons: Neo-Nazi
All Eyes On Egipt Bookstore, Chicago: Black separatist
Nation of Islam, Chicago: Black separatist
Crew 38, Chicago: Racist skinhead
Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge, Chicago, Black separatist
Black Riders Liberation Party, Chicago: Black separatist
Euro Folk Radio, Chicago: Christian identity
Resistance Records, Chicago: hate music
Northern Hammerskins, Chicago: racist skinhead
Israel United in Christ, Chicago: Black separatist
ACT for American, Des Plaines: anti-Muslim
Nation of Islam, Rockford: Black separatist
Nation of Islam, East St. Louis: Black separatist
World Congress of Families/Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society, Rockford: anti-LGBT
Ku Klos Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Gurnee: KKK
The SPLC’s Hate Map is searchable by hate group and state.
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Terrible.
In better Illinois news, it looks like Troy Laraviere might be running for mayor of Chicago!!!! If anyone could take on the BS in Springfield and the mayhem in CPS central office, it’s him! 👏🏻🙌🏻
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