It is rare to see hugs and tears on the floor of the Idaho legislature once a bill is passed. But the joy, in this case, was undeniable.
In a historic move, the Idaho Senate this week gave its stamp of approval to House Bill 93 – an education choice expansion that gives families another learning option. Moments before it passed, Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog called it a “watershed moment” – something she and Representative Wendy Horman have been working on for years.
House Bill 93 is a measure that gives families who opt out of the public school system the option to take a $5,000 tax credit to help offset the cost of educating their children. It’s an idea that, while controversial, is still very simple. It returns the conversation over education to where it belongs – the parents and the children – rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
It is not a voucher – as the money is directed at families rather than being a check written to a private school.
It is fiscally responsible. With a cap of just $50 million, it is modest and separate from the state’s K-12 budget. In fact, comparatively speaking, it is just .0185% of the state’s total K-12 budget. Because of the budget cap, fewer than 10,000 students will be able to take advantage.
It includes no new homeschooling regulations, and has the majority support of Idahoans, according to Mountain States Policy Center’s recent Idaho Poll.
It follows a long line of research – 187 empirical studies, in fact – that show that choice can improve student outcomes.
It gives priority to families who need it most, who earn less than 300% of the federal poverty level.
A legal analysis shows the measure to be constitutionally sound – as it does not directly fund private schools, religious or otherwise. In any case, Idaho already crossed that private/religious funding rubicon with the Launch program.
Pending a signature from Governor Brad Little, Idaho will join more than 30 other states to offer education choice expansion options.
Now that the legislature has acted, it is time for all Idahoans to work together to make sure the program is successful and benefits all children.
It’s not as expansive as other proposals, and not as tame as ideas recently rejected. In fact, it was the just right approach that received approval from both houses of the legislature for the first time in Idaho history.
Not too hot. Not too cold. Goldilocks and the Three Bears likely approve.