Idaho Senate Pushes Voucher Expansion Amid Funding Fights

BOISE — The Idaho Senate passed legislation Thursday to expand the state's Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit program, building on House Bill 93 signed into law by Gov. Brad Little on Feb. 27, 2025. The measure increases funding beyond the initial $50 million cap and broadens eligibility, prioritizing lower-income families at 300% of the federal poverty level while allowing up to $5,000 per student — or $7,500 for those with disabilities — for private school tuition, homeschool curricula, tutoring and transportation. Administered by the Idaho State Tax Commission, the program is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, and caps participation at 10,000 of Idaho's 300,000 K-12 students.

Opposition from educators and rural advocates remains fierce, noting nearly 50% of Idaho counties lack private schools, with 30% concentrated in Ada County. The Idaho Education Association argues the vouchers divert public funds from chronically underfunded public schools, which rank last nationally in per-pupil spending at $5,636 below the average. Public backlash was stark during HB 93's passage, with 86% of 37,457 messages to the governor's office opposing it. Just weeks after launch, lawmakers cut $30 million from the Empowering Parents grant program aiding public school students with laptops and supplies, redirecting resources to vouchers.

Supporters, including the Idaho Freedom Foundation, emphasize flexibility for homeschoolers and micro-schools, requiring accreditation or learning portfolios in core subjects. A related expansion bill failed in February on a 6-28 Senate vote, but momentum persists amid national voucher pushes. As the bill heads to the House, stakeholders from Boise to rural panhandle districts brace for impacts on Idaho's education landscape.