Tax-credit scholarships bringing more students into classrooms

Karla Pineda of the Interfaith Leadership Project introduces guests an an Oct. 30 public action for tax-credit scholarships at St. Frances of Rome School in Cciero. Families and officals from St. Albert the Great, St. Frances of Rome, Our Lady of Charity and St. Leonard spoke about how tax-credit scholarships have allowed them to keep children in Catholic schools. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

A combined choir from Epiphany and St. Frances of Rome schools performs at an Oct. 30, 2018, tax-credit scholarship celebration. Five Catholic schools gathered at St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero for the tax-credit scholarship public action with Empower Illinois, the state's largest scholarship-granting organization. Families from St. Albert the Great, St. Francis of Rome, Our Lady of Charity and St. Leonard spoke about how tax-credit scholarships have allowed their children to attend Catholic schools. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catholic school families listen to speakers at a public action for tax-credit schoalrshops Oct. 30, 2018, a St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. Families from St. Albert the Great, St. Frances of Rome, Our Lady of Charity and St. Leonard spoke about how tax-credit scholarships have helped thems end their children to Catholic schools. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

A Boy Scout salutes during the posting of colors to begin a public action for tax-credit schoalrships at St. Frances of Rome in Cicero on Oct. 30, 2018.(Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Participants say the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a tax-credit schoalrship public action Oct. 30, 2018, at St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

An Epiphany School student prays at an Oct. 30, 2018, gathering of five Catholic schools at St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero for a tax-credit scholarship public action with Empower Illinois, the largest scholarship-granting organization in the state. Families from St. Albert the Great, St. Francis of Rome, Our Lady of Charity and St. Leonard spoke about how tax-credit scholarships have allowed them to send theor children to Catholic schools. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Brianna Ayala speaks about why tax-cresit scholarships are important at St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero Oct. 30. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Karla Pineda of the Interfaith Leadership Project listens as Samuel Meraz talks aboit how tax-credit schoalrships have helped his family at an Oct. 30, 2018, tax-credit scholarship public action. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catholic school families listen to speakers at a public action for tax-credit schoalrshops Oct. 30, 2018, a St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. Families from St. Albert the Great, St. Frances of Rome, Our Lady of Charity and St. Leonard spoke about how tax-credit scholarships have helped thems end their children to Catholic schools. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Karla Pineda of the Interfaith Leadership Project helps a speaker at an Oct. 30, 2018, tax-credit scholarship public action at St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Illinois Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) greets the crowd at an Oct. 30 public action for tax-credit schoalrships at St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Illinois Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Riverside), who attended Catholic schools, addresses the audience at an Oct. 30, 2018, tax0credit schalrship public action at St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Students hold a giant check for $1,930,187.72 from "Empower Illinois" representing 451 scholarships presented to families in Illinois legislative districts 23 and 24 at an Oct. 30 tax-credit scholarship public action at St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Catholic school families listen to speakers at a public action for tax-credit schoalrshops Oct. 30, 2018, a St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. Families from St. Albert the Great, St. Frances of Rome, Our Lady of Charity and St. Leonard spoke about how tax-credit scholarships have helped thems end their children to Catholic schools. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Elected officials and other invited guests stand for the final blessing at a public action for tax-credit schoalrships Oct. 30, 2018, at St. Frances of Rome in Cicero. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)