Correspondent
As Illinois gears up for the 2026 gubernatorial election, the debate over the Educational Choice of Children Act (ECCA) is heating up. But for rural districts like Macomb District 185, Superintendent Patrick Twomey says school choice may not be the straightforward solution some envision.
“Most Illinois legislators come from suburban areas around Chicago, where public transportation makes school choice easier,” Twomey explained. “But rural downstate areas lack that infrastructure, making school choice problematic.”
Unlike Iowa, where many districts were designed with school choice in mind, Illinois faces a stark divide in population density and transportation access. “In rural areas, students already travel long distances to school. School choice isn’t much of an option,” Twomey said.
Legislatively, school choice also faces hurdles. Receiving districts can limit enrollment to avoid overcrowding, which Twomey says is a real concern in Macomb. “Our schools are at or near capacity. We can’t just take in large numbers of additional students without expanding facilities.”
Transportation costs further complicate matters. “Busing students from neighboring districts would cause expenses to skyrocket,” Twomey said.
“Politicians may support school choice, but the reality is it won’t have much impact in rural areas.”
