Lake County Gazette

Marsha McClary, chair of the Lake County Division of Moms For Liberty, said that Illinois families are experiencing financial strain from funding public schools while being denied access to alternatives. The statement was made on the Prairie State Wire Podcast.

"When you look at your property tax bill, but half of that's going," said McClary, Chair of Lake County Division. "Or more sometimes going to the school district you're in to pay for the public schools. So it's really a challenge for parents to then go and pay for something else. It's really a challenge for parents."

In 2024, Illinois legislators decided to let the Invest in Kids Act expire, ending a tax-credit scholarship program that had allowed low-income families to send their children to private schools. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, this decision made Illinois the only state to reverse a school choice initiative while others expanded theirs. The move has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it removed vital education options for underprivileged students.

The Illinois Association of School Boards reports that more than half of the average Illinois property tax bill is allocated to local public schools. This structure means school funding heavily depends on the local tax base, often leading to disparities in educational resources between wealthier and poorer districts. The reliance on property taxes continues to shape equity debates in school finance across the state.

Illinois public school enrollment has declined steadily over the past decade. As reported by the Illinois Policy Institute, student numbers dropped from about 1.98 million in 2019 to 1.85 million during the 2022–2023 school year. This trend reflects growing interest in private, charter, and homeschooling, as well as broader demographic shifts affecting the state’s school-age population.

According to her profile on LinkedIn, McClary chairs the Lake County chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national group advocating for parental rights in education. She is also the founder and CEO of ROI of Life LLC, which focuses on personal and professional development coaching. McClary holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and is involved in civic and education-focused community programs.