Costa Catholic Academy Principal Joe Buresh says that a new state program stands to help schools like his as well as taxpayers.
The process involves four steps. First donors must logon to mytax.illinois.gov to request a letter ID that will be mailed.
You then use that letter to activate your account at the website.
The third step is to reserve your credit, or tell them the amount you would like to be designated towards private schools or a specific one.
The fourth step is when you designate where you would like your credit to go. Buresh says you can specify that you want it to go to Costa or more generally a region of the state or private schools across the state.
He does advise those who wish to take advantage of this program to act now.
The Investment in Kids Act was passed in Illinois along with the budget that was approved last summer. It gives a 75 percent tax credit on gifts for those who want to give to a private school or towards a region of schools.
For example, if someone wanted to give Costa $1,000 they would get a $750 tax credit. Buresh says the scholarships this money will go to will make a Costa educational more affordable for many families.
Buresh says that about 80 percent of Costa students would qualify for some scholarship under this new program.
He says previously only about 1 percent would have been eligible for some type of scholarship. He urges those who wish to take advantage of the program to start the process right away.
Buresh says he has reason to believe the program will be maxed out in a matter of weeks.
There’s also plenty of information that can found by logging on to costadevelopment.weebly.com
Buresh concedes this program could take some enrollment out a public school but he doesn’t think it will be a “huge chunk.”
