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North Cook News

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Palatine, Wheeling students to be eligible for private school scholarships in new state program

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A new public school funding bill recently passed by the Illinois Legislature and signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner, SB1947, includes a scholarship program that awards donated funds to students in lower-income families – up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level – to provide them the opportunity to attend private schools.

A provision within the bill allows for scholarship eligibility to students in select “focus districts” in the state, including several in North Cook County.

In North Cook County, students who meet income criteria in Palatine Community Consolidated School District 15 and Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 are eligible for the scholarships.

A breakdown from the Illinois Policy Institute reveals the criteria for eligibility: A district must include at least one school ranking in the bottom 10 percent in terms of student performance or a school with a graduation rate of less than 60 percent. 

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