The following is an action alert regarding state assistance for nonpublic schools.  The Catholic Conference has recently met with the Governor, the House Speaker, the Governor's budget chief, key members of the State Senate, and the State Superintendent.  The purpose was to seek help for nonpublic schools in the fiscal year 2008 budget, possibly in the forms of expanding the tax credit, reimbursement for state mandates, and more money for Textbook and Transportation programs.  After these meetings, WE THINK THIS CAN BE DONE!

All of our ICNS members are strongly encouraged to conduct a letter-writing campaign in support of state assistance to nonpublic schools.  The time is now.  If there is a large increase in education spending in Illinois, as appears likely, nonpublic schools must not be left out.  Our ideas for assistance are included in the sample letter. You will also find a fact sheet that shares pertinent information about how funding for nonpublic schools could be supported in the state’s 2008 budget.

Administrators, please ask the parents and staff of your schools to use these materials to write your state representative and state senator.  The letters need to be sent over the next two weeks.  Phone calls are not appropriate at this point because we are dealing with a budget issue and not a specific bill.  WE NEED A LOT OF LETTERS BASED ON THE SAMPLE LETTER AND THE FACT SHEET THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THIS ISSUE OF THE ICNS ELECTRONIC REPORT.  The Sample Letter and Fact Sheet are in Microsoft Word format.