Idaho parental choice tax credit window closes for 2026 - here's what we know about its future

This past weekend marked the final chance for Idaho families to apply for the state’s new Parental Choice Tax Credit, with the application window closing on Sunday.

While we don't have the final numbers, one thing is already clear: the demand for additional educational options in Idaho is real, substantial, and growing.

As of last Friday, 5,907 families have applied, covering 12,960 students across the state. Those numbers have climbed steadily since the application window opened in January. For a program that is both new and relatively modest in size, that level of participation sends a strong signal.

The parental choice tax credit allows families to receive up to $5,000 per child to help cover qualified educational expenses. Those expenses can include tutoring, curriculum, private school tuition, and other resources that support a child’s learning.

If every student signing up received the full $5,000, it would total $64.8 million. Unfortunately, it is likely some families will be rejected simply because the state ran out available funds. The program is capped at $50 million.

It is important for policymakers to know that, if every child applying is leaving a public school, the state could actually save some $51.8 million. Why? Because families have to choose one or the other - public school or the tax credit. You cannot receive both.

One of the defining features of Idaho’s program is that the support goes directly to parents. Families themselves decide how to use the funds based on their children’s needs. For some, that might mean additional tutoring. For others, it could help pay for private schooling or specialized learning tools. The idea is simple: parents are often in the best position to understand what will help their child succeed.

The early response suggests that many Idaho families agree.

Policymakers must now decide whether the overwhelming demand is worth additional investment. No bills this session have offered to expand the program, but there have been plenty of pieces of legislation by opponents wishing to cut it.

With nearly 13,000 students already represented in applications, the participation level is significant—roughly comparable to the enrollment of one of Idaho’s largest school districts. That kind of participation would be noteworthy even for a long-established program. For a program still in its first application cycle, it’s remarkable.

The steady growth in applications over the past several weeks suggests something important: interest is not limited to a small group of families or a particular region. Instead, the credit appears to be reaching parents across a wide range of communities.

It also demonstrates that when families are given more flexibility in how they support their children’s education, many will take advantage of the opportunity.

Critics of school choice programs often argue that demand will be limited or that participation will be confined to a narrow group of families. But the numbers emerging from Idaho suggest otherwise. Thousands of families—representing thousands of students—have already decided that having additional educational options is worth pursuing.

Education debates often revolve around policy proposals, legislative language, or funding formulas. But the real test of any policy is whether families actually use it. In this case, thousands of Idaho parents have already answered that question.