McHenry Times

Woodstock's Steven Reick, the Republican candidate for state House in District 63, has proposed a radical change in the way education dollars are spent – by placing them in the hands of parents instead of bureaucrats.

“We can start the process by describing our current system of government schools, and the medieval guild that runs it for what it is: bloated, self-indulgent and counter to the needs of us, our children and our country," Reick said. "Rather than complain about the current state of education, we should tear it up, root and branch."

Reick went on to discuss a novel plan implemented by Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee. In those states, laws were passed giving parents control over the educational funding for their children. Reick focused on the "Educational Choice Scholarship Program," which is being implemented in Nevada.

The Nevada legislature passed the bill and the governor signed it into law in 2015. Under the Nevada Education Savings Accounts (ESA) program, parents can remove their children from public schools and use the educational funds to pay for educational services ranging from private school tuition to therapy. Some or all of the funds that would have gone to the public school are placed in an ESA. If there are funds left over at the end of the school year, they can be rolled over for the following year's educational expenses.

For the 2015-16 school year, the account payments would have ranged from $5,139 to $5,710, depending on the family's income and if the student had special needs.

Approximately 96 percent of Nevada students currently qualify for an ESA. The student must have attended a public school for at least 100 days before an ESA can be opened. Active duty military members' children and children under 7 qualify immediately for the program.

In addition, parents must agree that the child will be enrolled in a private school, distance-learning program or other educational institution. Parents can also hire a tutor or tutoring service. While parents can teach the children themselves, homeschoolers are not eligible for the ESA program. Parents must also agree to use the funds for authorized expenses, such as textbooks, transportation up to $750, tuition, tutoring, testing fees and instruction or services for students with special needs.

The Nevada ESA program does not allow funds to be refunded or rebated to parents. If the ESA account is closed, the remaining funds will go back into the state's general fund.

Reick pointed out that an ESA program in Illinois would give parents choices in their children's education beyond the neighborhood public school. It would also break the monopoly of public schools and education funding, forcing competition for the students' dollars.

Reick also discussed education funding and the burden on taxpayers. Property taxes are used to pay for education. Illinois homeowners already pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation. He believes that education should remain under local control, with education monies following the child.

"When I’m asked by voters how I intend to change the way education is funded in Illinois, I tell them that it’s time to put the responsibility for paying for education squarely where Article X, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution says it should be: 'The State has the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education,'” Reick said.