One private school is struggling to keep students in the classroom

SPRINGFIELD, DISEASE (WICS/WRSP) — Nearly a year after the statewide grant program ended, families still feel the burden.

Lawmakers allowed the Invest in Children scholarship program to expire last year.

The program enabled low-income students to attend schools that best fit their needs.

Many families and private schools struggle without this scholarship.

One of such private schools is St. Patrick’s in Springfield.

Now the Catholic school is looking for ways to keep kids in the classroom.

“My granddaughter didn’t want to change school, she loved the small environment here,” said Yolanda Jones, a grandparent at St. Patrick’s.

Many families found themselves in difficult situations after the Illinois Invest in Kids scholarship program ended.

Money for scholarships that allowed families to send them to private schools.

“She didn’t want to change, so my grandma basically stepped in and tried to help my son and his family so she could continue her education,” Jones said.

In 2023, more than 9,500 students across Illinois took advantage of the scholarship to attend the school of their choice.

This applies to every student from kindergarten through fifth grade at St. Patrick’s.

To keep these children in the classroom, St. Patrick’s offered parents an affordable tuition plan this year.

“This has enabled the school to continue the success of last year without missing a beat,” said Michael Carlson, principal of St. Patrick’s. “Nobody turned away for financial reasons.”

While this helps, families may still need to make major changes after losing their Invest in Kids grants.

“You may have to make major changes to your income,” Jones said. “I know several families who took second jobs because they didn’t want to move their children out of the program.”

Thanks to this, students like Aiden and Naomi, fourth-graders at St. Patrick’s Day, they can continue their education in an environment where they are prepared for success.

“The community is strong, everyone here is respectful and kind to each other,” Naomi said.

“The coolest thing about coming to St. Pat’s is to see this school without the bullying,” Aiden said.

Jones also added that some children are unable to learn in an environment of 40 children and that St. Patrick’s provides smaller learning environments to help students succeed.

St. Pat’s offers each family four different plans and each family can choose which one they can afford.

St. Patrick’s can pay for up to 90% of your tuition with help from people in the community.

On Tuesday, November 12, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in the church of St. Patrick’s Day, a radiothon will be held to seek donors for the program.