On December 5, 2024, this story was first published on IdahoEdNews.org.
Editor’s note: In anticipation of the 2025 legislative session, this is the first of several articles about private school choice. Future installments will be released every week on idahoednews.org.
Policymakers and supporters in Idaho are preparing for yet another battle over private school choice, and when the Legislature convenes in January, it may take up a variety of proposals.
One of the few Republican-dominated states that has not yet implemented a program that uses tax credits, education savings accounts, or vouchers to subsidize the cost of private school tuition is Idaho.However, proponents of private school choice rejoiced at this year’s election results, which saw the election of important supporters and the loss of opponents, possibly opening the door for a successful bill in the next session.
According to Chris Cargill, president and CEO of the Mountain States Policy Center, a conservative advocacy group that promotes private school choice, there seems to be a greater chance this year than perhaps any other year to get something over the finish line and benefit children throughout the state.
Even still, it’s too early to count the votes, and many public school administrators will continue to oppose the use of public cash for private tuition. Teachers’ and school board trustees’ organizations have opposed earlier choice plans and are reorganizing phalanxes.
Quinn Perry, director of government affairs and policy for the Idaho School Boards Association, stated, “Our members are fired up.” They want to ensure that the Legislature is aware of the needs of their children, communities, students, and means of subsistence.
A few frequent proponents of private school choice did not immediately reply to Idaho Education News inquiries regarding their plans for the session, as lawmakers frequently conceal their policy objectives before introducing them. Perry and Cargill stated in separate interviews with EdNews that they anticipate the emergence of multiple bills.
These might consist of suggestions for:
- Tax credits, which would allow private school families to collect refunds on education expenses, including tuition.
- Education savings accounts (ESAs), which would offer private school families flexible spending accounts that could be used on tuition and other expenses.
- Grants or scholarships, which would provide private school families a set dollar amount to put toward tuition.
Similar ideas have occasionally failed to pass the Legislature in recent years. Opponents and skeptics have expressed concerns about expenses and the absence of accountability standards for unregulated education, while advocates have maintained that public education money should accompany each kid to the school that best suits their needs, including private schools. Idaho has no laws governing homeschooling or private schools.
The Idaho Legislature has rejected previous attempts to permit taxpayer money to be used for private education.
A bill to establish a $50 million tax credit and grant program was barely defeated by an Idaho House committee earlier this year.That came after a universal ESA program with an unspecified cost was rejected by the Idaho Senate in 2023. The bill languished in the House that year, despite senators approving a $12 million expansion of the Empowering Parents program to include tuition as a qualifying expense.
A few private school choice doubters lost their reelection campaigns as a result of these votes, which were crucial in some close contests in this year’s GOP primary election.Republicans from the Treasure Valley, former Representatives Melissa Durrant and Kenny Wroten, were adamantly opposed to this year’s tax credit plan. Caldwell representative Julie Yamamoto also lost her primary campaign. The House Education Committee was a stronghold against private school choice under her direction as chairwoman.
During the GOP primary and general election, third-party organizations on both sides of the private school choice controversy invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in their campaigns.
According to Cargill, more lawmakers than ever before seem to be in favor of a private school choice program following the elections. It remains to be seen what kind of program wins.
Cargill projected that Republicans who are dubious about private school choice, such as Governor Brad Little, would be most amenable to a tax credit idea that doesn’t necessarily come from funds designated for public schools or create a new state bureaucracy.
Other than stating that he would oppose a policy that jeopardizes public school financing, Little, a Republican, hasn’t stated much about his views on private school choice.
However, in a stunning turn of events, state superintendent Debbie Critchfield announced to school administrators this summer that she was discussing a private school choice bill with the governor’s office. Since then, no specifics have surfaced.
Later, Critchfield, a Republican who has also previously voiced doubts about subsidizing private schools, informed EdNews that funding for private school tuition would not be included in the Idaho Department of Education’s budget request for the next fiscal year.
“We need to look away from the public school funds when we start looking at what school choice looks like,” she said. I believe there are alternative options. Are there already programs in place, or are there alternative means of obtaining funding to accomplish that? That’s on the table, I believe.
Last year, Critchfield participated in discussions to include tuition as an allowable item in Empowering Parents, a State Board of Education microgrant program for educational costs.
A resolution vehemently condemning any attempt to redirect public monies to private schools was adopted last month by members of the Idaho School Boards Association, an advocacy group for trustees of public schools.
According to Perry, budgets in other states are being severely impacted by private school choice initiatives. Additionally, the School Boards Association strongly opposes using public monies to support private schools that are not accessible to all children and are not accountable.
Private school subsidies are still opposed by the Idaho Education Association, the teachers’ union, and Idaho Business for Education, an organization that advocates for business executives. According to Perry, public school administrators will work hard to make sure lawmakers hear their concerns during the upcoming session.
Until the Legislature is in there, truly reviewing these plans, and hearing from their constituents about how these things will proceed, we never know their outlook.
OUR WORK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY YOU.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
