The state of Idaho is moving closer to adopting an expansion of education choice. Whether that happens via a tax credit, Education Savings Account or some other mechanism, one thing is certain: it's not going to harm the state's homeschooling community.
It's a concern perhaps more prominent in Idaho than any other state, as Idaho is consistently ranked among the top states for homeschooling. That is something to be proud of, and policymakers should ensure the state stays that way.
The only bill to pass committees in both chambers and be approved in at least one is House Bill 93. This $5,000 tax credit makes clear that it does not come with strings attached for homeschoolers who may want to take advantage of the program. And those homeschooling families who are even remotely concerned have the option to simply not sign up for the program.
Still, there are fears, with some calling education choice a "threat." Families that we recently interviewed disagree.
So, too, does the research. The Johns Hopkins Homeschool Research Lab completed a thorough analysis of education choice and whether policy changes in a state including expansion of choice led to any harm for homeschooling families.
The answer was an unequivocal "no." Researchers write:
"We find that increased homeschool student access to local public school offerings does not appear to have negatively impacted homeschool policy. We also find no evidence that public funding of private school choice has impacted homeschool policy. Indeed, we find that overall, homeschool regulation has decreased over time."
This trend has been made clear as states have expanded their choice offerings.
Money is not the ticket to a homeschooler’s heart—freedom is. But money is a neutral tool that may produce greater control or freedom depending on the criteria attached to its use.
The purpose of education choice is to give parents the means to choose the education method that best suits the needs of their individual child, not to bring the child under the regulation and purview of the state. It should be simple, clear, understandable, and place as much of the decision-making power as possible with parents.