Illinois private scholarship program applications to reopen

The application system is scheduled to reopen next week for Illinois families wanting to apply for the state’s new private school scholarship program.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that Empower Illinois, one of the organizations overseeing the Tax Credit Scholarship program, says the application system will reopen at 7 p.m. Feb. 27. The system crashed Jan. 31, the first day applications were accepted. Empower Illinois said the crash was due to extreme demand.

Empower Illinois officials say they’re now making the application a two-step process. Families will fill out an online form and then will receive an emailed link to complete their application within three days.

Lawmakers approved the controversial $75 million tax credit program last year as part of a school funding overhaul. It’s available through the Invest in Kids Act.