Illinoisans have donated millions of dollars to private school scholarship funds in just the first day of the new state program allowing them to obtain tax credits for those donations.
The governor’s office says donors pledged $36 million Tuesday, the first day of the program that was set up as part of last year’s school funding reform deal.
Individuals can donate up to $1.3 million and receive 75-percent of the value of the donation in the form of a state tax credit.
Tuesday’s donations account for more than one-third of the $100 million annual cap on the program, with the money allowing lower-income students to receive help with private school tuition.