From left to right: Angela Schiavitti, Jim Murphy of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, Ike Muzikowski President and Principal of Chicago Hope Academy, Ted Dabrowski, President of Wirepoint | Provided
From left to right: Angela Schiavitti, Jim Murphy of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, Ike Muzikowski President and Principal of Chicago Hope Academy, Ted Dabrowski, President of Wirepoint | Provided
Ted Dabrowski, former president of Wirepoints and candidate for governor of Illinois, emphasized the importance of private schools' successes in light of the 2023 expiration of Illinois' Invest in Kids Act. He made this statement at the Chicago Athletic Association White City Ballroom.
"Celebrating the success of private schools like Hope Academy is more important than ever since Gov. Pritzker and Democrat lawmakers in 2023 killed Illinois' only School Choice program, the Invest in Kids Act," said Dabrowski.
The Invest in Kids Act established a 75% state income tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations that provided private-school scholarships to eligible students. Without legislative renewal, the program was scheduled to conclude after tax years ending before January 1, 2024. The Illinois Department of Revenue instructed that contributions must be made by December 31, 2023, to qualify, effectively ending the program at year’s end and halting new credits.
According to state education data from 2024, there was a mixed recovery: elementary and middle school reading scores improved while math performance lagged behind. Additionally, statewide SAT performance continued its decline from pre-pandemic levels. Reporting on the 2024 Illinois Report Card noted that new data released on October 30, 2024, showed Illinois students rebounding on several metrics; however, SAT scores were trending downward, raising concerns about high school readiness in math. These trends are central to policy debates over educational choice, accountability, and interventions.
In Chicago Public Schools (CPS), graduation rates have increased even as proficiency remains low. District reporting in October 2024 highlighted an 85% high school graduation rate alongside just 31% of students meeting or exceeding reading standards and only 19% achieving proficiency in math. This contrast between rising completion rates and modest academic attainment has led to calls for greater transparency regarding outcomes and expanded options to meet family needs. These figures reflect systemwide performance rather than any single campus.
Dabrowski is currently president of Wirepoints, an organization focused on research within Illinois. He previously served as Vice President of Policy and spokesman at the Illinois Policy Institute and spent 16 years with Citibank in international roles across Mexico and Poland. His experience includes heading Corporate and Investment Banking and serving as bank treasurer in Poland. Dabrowski's background in policy and finance informs his commentary on state budgets, pensions, and K–12 educational outcomes.
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