Idaho families could soon have more education options. On Friday, after a debate lasting nearly two hours, the Idaho House of Representatives passed House Bill 93 - a parental choice tax credit.
"This is big win for Idaho families," MSPC President Chris Cargill said. “The growing body of research clearly shows that choice programs improve student achievement and cause nearby public schools to improve their performance. We were delighted to offer our research and recommendations to help inform the debate."
HB 93 would provide a $5,000 tax credit to qualifying families for educational expenses including private school tuition. Special needs students could qualify for $7,500 tax credits.
There is a cap on what would be available of $50 million, which is equal to just .0185% of the state’s public school budget. It does not take any funding from public schools.
“This is not an either or choice," sponsor Representative Wendy Horman said. "This is a both/and. It’s one more piece of the pie.”
The bill has strong new accountability measures, including oversight by the state tax commission, and a requirement for parents to submit a satisfaction and engagement survey to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the tax credit.
Our exclusive Idaho Poll shows strong support for a $5,000 tax credit, with the majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents in Idaho in favor.
MSPC President Chris Cargill was asked to testify on the proposal in committee this week. Here's what he had to say:
Last week, the President issued an executive order to expand educational freedom and opportunities for all families. In the order, the president calls on state officials to put politics aside and allow parents to choose the best educational setting for their children.
He may not have mentioned Idaho directly, but the message was loud and clear.
House Bill 93 now moves to the Idaho Senate for consideration.