A few weeks after implementing a $50 million tax credit to assist families with private school tuition and homeschooling, Idaho has terminated a program that aided tens of thousands of public school students in acquiring laptops, school supplies, tutoring, and other educational resources.
The Republican responsible for the initiative to defund Idaho’s Empowering Parents grants stated that this action was unrelated to the party’s decision to finance private schools. However, the state’s leading conservative group, a staunch advocate of the private school tax credit, drew a direct correlation between the two actions.
The Idaho Freedom Foundation proposed reallocating the $30 million, previously used for Empowering Parents, to the newly created tax credit. This measure aims to accommodate an additional 6,000 private and homeschooling students, adding to the 10,000 students already anticipated to benefit.
The new voucher-style tax credits differ significantly from the previous grants. These tax credits are not accessible to public school students, while the grants primarily served this group. Additionally, there is minimal state oversight regarding the use of the private education tax credits, unlike the grants, which mandated spending only with state-approved educational vendors.
Rep. Soñia Galaviz, a Democrat working in a low-income public elementary school in Boise, criticized the decision to terminate the grants in a speech to legislative colleagues. She emphasized the impact this would have on her students, noting that families would lose access to important educational resources like additional math tutoring.
According to ProPublica, when states allocate public funds to private schools, affluent families benefit more than those from lower income brackets. Programs billed as enabling “school choice” often end up aiding families who have already opted for private schools.
This year, Idaho lawmakers passed legislation establishing the new tax credit, which some liken to school vouchers that allow parents to choose schools for their children. The credit enables private and homeschool families to reduce their tax obligations by $5,000 per child, or $7,500 per student with disabilities, or receive that amount from the state if they owe no taxes. Lower-income families are prioritized, and there is no limit on the number of credits a family can claim. Funds must be allocated to traditional academic expenses such as private school tuition or homeschool materials, though families are not required to provide spending proof unless audited.
The Empowering Parents grant program, now repealed, was available to all students, regardless of their learning environment. State data indicates that over 81% of the grants, benefiting more than 24,000 students, went to public school students during the academic year. The program provided up to $1,000 per student, with lower-income families receiving precedence, and capped at $3,000 per family.
Idaho Governor Brad Little had established a similar initiative in 2020 using federal pandemic funds to help families transition to remote learning. The current program was legislated in 2022, also financed by one-time federal pandemic recovery funds, and was renewed with ongoing state funding in 2023.
Charlene Bradley utilized the grant to purchase a laptop for her daughter, a fifth grader in the Nampa School District, highlighting its necessity as the child could only use school computers or, occasionally, the mother’s cell phone for schoolwork.
Debra Whiteley used the grant to pay for home internet and a printer for her 12-year-old daughter, who attends public school in north-central Idaho. The printer allowed her daughter to complete projects in a professional manner, improving her academic experience.
Annie Coltrin employed the grant for much-needed tutoring for her daughter, significantly improving the student’s math grade from a low D to a B+.
Educational leaders, like Jason Sevy, advocated for maintaining the Empowering Parents program, pointing out its benefits for low-income families. Sevy’s district used the grants for essentials like backpacks and school supplies, or laptops, which families could not otherwise afford.
Sevy noted that few families in his district would benefit from the state’s new tuition tax credits due to limited access to private schools. He expressed concern that these schools might not accept English-language learners or students with special education needs, unlike public schools, which are more inclusive.
The legislator who sponsored the bill to end Empowering Parents is Sen. Camille Blaylock, a Republican from western Idaho. Blaylock argued that the grants deviated from their original goal and turned into a fund for technology purchases, creating entitlements rather than empowering parents.
Blaylock denied intentions of diverting funds from public education to private schools and expressed her desire for the savings to enhance public school programs. However, she also acknowledged the legislative record did not align with how the grant funds were utilized, mainly on electronics.
The program was initially intended to assist lower-income students, as indicated in the legislative record, with technology listed as a crucial expense alongside other educational needs. Killing the grants contradicted the program’s recognition as a form of school choice by Governor Little, who appreciated its role in supporting low-income families and enhancing educational opportunities.
Despite its praised contributions, the Idaho House and Senate voted to terminate the grant program, and it was signed by Governor Little, who stated the program had served its purpose post-pandemic. Sevy speculated that the original intent behind Empowering Parents might have included a shift towards vouchers, despite its genuine help to disadvantaged families.