Partner
Why Participate in the TCS Program
Empower Illinois is the state’s largest and most comprehensive SGO. While we serve approximately 91% of all Illinois recognized private schools in their processing of donations, scholarship awards and program compliance, we also assist students and their families through the scholarship process in an effort to help make their dreams a reality.
By joining our program, donors will be able to designate funds directly to your school or school network while Empower Illinois will handle the processing and distribute the scholarship funds. Participating schools will have access to a personalized portal with student, donor and program data. Contact us at 800-616-7606 or schools@empowerillinois.org for more information.
The Tax Credit Scholarship Process
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Invest in Kids Act
The Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program offers a 75% income tax credit.
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Donors
Individuals and businesses that contribute to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).
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Scholarship Granting Organization
The SGOs then provide scholarships for students whose families meet the income requirements.
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Students
Students can attend qualified, non-public schools in Illinois.
Is Your School Eligible?
In order to be eligible to offer scholarships to students, schools must first be recognized or in the process of becoming recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education. View the list of currently recognized schools and learn more about the process for becoming a recognized school.
Join Our Coalition
Empower Illinois is proud to partner with organizations across Illinois and nationally to expand education options for low-income and working-class kids. Are you interested in becoming a tax credit scholarship champion, or is your organization interested in joining our coalition?
Remote Learning Resources
In addition to any resources provided by your school or classroom teacher, below is a list of free, online academic resources to support education opportunities as Illinois schools are temporarily closed.
Amplify | This ed tech company is working at making its online instructional materials available for free for parents. Check back soon for more information.
Code.org | Code.org offers online coding and computer science courses for students as early as Kindergarten.
College Board | College Board offers a wide range of practice tests in math, English and writing.
Crash Course | This channel offers a huge library of videos across most major disciplines, including playlists of 48 videos on U.S. history, 72 on world history, and 50 on U.S. government and politics. Each episode is generally 10 to 15 minutes long and features John Green talking about the subject, mixed in with some humor and animations.
ExcelinEd | Class is in Session with Jeb Bush is a series of video conversations with the visionaries of today. Created specifically for secondary school students and relevant for the classroom, these 20-minute virtual conversations—hosted by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush—draw out personal and professional experiences and, especially important, elicit advice for America’s next generation from leaders across the nation.
Girls Who Code | Girls Who Code is making CS educational activities available for download free of charge.
Great Minds | Great Minds is offering free, newly recorded lessons every day from their math, science, and English curriculums.
Khan Academy | Khan Academy offers free, online standards-aligned lessons covering kindergarten through early college math, grammar, science, history, AP® courses, SAT® preparation, and more. These courses are offered in 40 different languages.
Modern States | Modern States offers tuition free, high quality courses online from top institutions for college credit.
National Geographic | Access videos, interactive maps and activities that encourage students to explore everything from ecology to geography.
Varsity Tutors | Varsity Tutors is a live learning platform that has numerous free resources to help students and parents cope with school and summer camp closures. They offer free, live online classes.
XQ Institute | XQ is offering remote learning resources for high school educators.
Zearn Math | Zearn Maths’s K-5 curriculum – including 400 hours of digital lessons with on-screen teachers and paper-based materials that can be used without a device – is free and available 24/7.
Bellweather Education Partners | Bellwether Education Partners is a national nonprofit focused on dramatically changing education and life outcomes for underserved children. They are offering probono services to schools on how to address a variety of issues related to operations, strategy and decision-making, state and federal policy guidance, curriculum and instruction, and financial planning.
Curriculum Associates | Curriculum Associates has created printable at-home activity packs that Arnett recommends, helping students focus on math learning.
Success Academy Webinar | Learn more about how one charter school network is transitioning to remote learning and what best practices could help your school.
Helpful Resources
