Federal scholarship could help rural Illinois students find education optionsA new federal scholarship tax credit program could be a lifeline to students in rural Illinois. If you are a struggling student in rural Illinois, there are few options for a better education if the public school is a poor fit. But if Illinois does not join the program, Illinois donors’ money will go to students in other states and Illinois students will be left out. Illinois should opt into the federal scholarship programIllinois families in urban or rural areas, or in public or private schools could benefit from the federal scholarship tax credit. The only question is whether Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers will let Illinois students benefit.