The Catholic Conference of Illinois, the chief lobbying group for the bishops of Illinois, Chicago’s Catholic schools and parents favoring school choice scored a key victory on March 25 when state Senate Bill 2494, legislation seeking to provide tuition vouchers to the families of children enrolled in Chicago’s lowest performing schools, passed its Senate vote. “This shows that many legislators are coming to the conclusion that parents should have the right to decide where state dollars for their children’s education should go,” CCI executive director Bob Gilligan said. The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. James Meeks from Chicago and co-sponsored by Elmhurst Republican Sen. Dan Cronin, earned Senate approval with 33 Yes, 20 No and three Present votes. The school voucher legislation now sits under consideration with the state House of Representatives. If enacted into law, families receiving vouchers would be able to enroll their children in any participating nonpublic school in Chicago, including Catholic institutions whose work can be expanded to serve additional families. “I appreciate the Senate for taking the historic step to provide opportunities for children to achieve their full potential in schools that meet their needs,” Meeks said following the bill’s passage. Enroll in nonpublic schools Originally, the bill called for vouchers to be used in grades kindergarten through 12. A late amendment, however, redefined the criteria to include only kindergarten through eighth grade, a sign of the political maneuvering and power plays that are likely to continue defining the school voucher debate. Furthermore, the bill, which will only cover approximately 10 percent of Chicago’s public school children, will not assist any current Catholic school students. “This is a start,” Gilligan said. “The hope is to amend the bill in the future to include high school students and expand it to include more families, but for now, we’re pleased to report some positive movement on a critical issue for families and children.” School voucher proponents anticipate a contentious battle in the House. Many worry that legislators, fresh off approving pension reform, will be hesitant to once again defy the Illinois Education Association (IEA), one of school vouchers’ principal antagonists and a powerful lobbying group. “There is certainly a concern that some legislators won’t want to ruffle the IEA again and that’s a challenge we’ll have to confront,” Gilligan said, noting during a March 26 phone interview that the legislation still needed a House sponsor. “Once we determine our House sponsor, we’ll be able to plan our advocacy efforts around that.” Potential is there While challenges surely remain, Gilligan and other school voucher advocates are encouraged at the progress. In passing the Senate, legislators showcased a growing ease with the potential of school vouchers and confidence in the Catholic school system. “This is an encouraging first step and certainly a recognition that [Catholic schools] educate their children well,” Catholic School Superintendent Sister Mary Paul McCaughey said. McCaughey’s and the archdiocese’s support is behind the proposed legislation. “Parents and kids are seeking something different and better and we support their choice for education,” McCaughey said. “For our city and our communities, good education is essential and this bill reflects that reality, which we support wholeheartedly.”