One year later, the critics are proven wrong and Idaho kids are winning

What a difference a year makes.

When Idaho lawmakers passed the state's new parental choice tax credit in 2025, we knew it wouldn't take long to determine whether the program would be a success. After all, implementation was almost immediate, and the law was hailed as the nation's "best education choice program." Still, it was important to help families understand the system, and defend the law from an expected court challenge.

Last September, the challenge came. The Idaho Education Association, and at least one state lawmaker sued in an attempt to overturn what legislators passed. They claimed the Idaho constitution would never permit such a bill. They were wrong - and lost months later in a unanimous state Supreme Court decision. The union ended up having to pay the state's costs to defend the measure.

All the while, MSPC was on the road guiding parents through the process of signing up. We held town hall meetings from Boise to Coeur d'Alene, and Moscow to Idaho Falls. Some of the town hall meetings were interrupted by angry union members who - again - made inaccurate statements or predicted doom.

What did they say, and how did things end up working out?

They claimed Idaho parents and taxpayers never wanted the choice program. This turned out to be false, proven by several MSPC polls, polls by Boise State University and the national organization yes. every kid. There was even more egg on the face when the program - in its first year - maxed out with more than 12,000 students participating.

They claimed the program would take money away from public schools. That didn't happen either. In fact, public school funding was increasing before it passed, and is still increasing in Idaho.

They claimed only rich people would take advantage of the choice program. Initial numbers show at least half of the children come from lower-income or working-class backgrounds. And priority was given to those below 300% of the federal poverty level.

They claimed the program was a voucher and parents would use it to buy big screen TVs or maybe even vacations. Neither one of those things have happened either.

The past 18 months - from passage, to lawsuit, to implementation - have proven two things: there was demand, and almost nothing critics predicted has come true.

One year later, Idaho kids are winning. The second year of applications opens in January. But don't be expecting apologies from those who got it wrong. They're likely too busy coming up with their next lines of attack.