Governor Little approves “Parental Choice Tax Credit” Bill

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — School choice is now law here in Idaho. On Thursday, Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 93, also known as the “Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit.”

“I was pretty confident that the governor was going to sign it anyway we worked with his staff all summer on this bill,” says House Majority Leader, Jason Monks.

The bill will allow parents to apply for an annual, refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 for “qualified expenses” for grade school children and $7,500 for students with disabilities.

According to the bill, those expenses include nonpublic school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and other costs. House Majority Leader Jason Monks was a sponsor of the bill.

“I think you’ll have a lot of interest by parents who will explore the options and ideas,” says Monks. “I think you’ll see the increase of people looking at pods and micro schools, that’s one of the things in this legislation that was way overlooked.”

After signing the bill, Governor Little released a statement stating in part quote: “with the passage of the $50 million parental choice tax credit program, Idaho boasts even more abundant schooling options. For Idaho students and families. Idaho can have it all – strong public schools and education freedom.”

The Idaho Democratic Party responded writing quote: “Brad Little cares more about appeasing out-of-state billionaires than protecting Idaho students and neighborhood schools. Idahoans saw this voucher scheme for what it was: a blatant attack on public education.”

Some school districts were also left disappointed by the Governor’s decision. Twin Falls School District Superintendent, Brady Dickinson says he and 72 other superintendents across the state wrote a letter to the governor asking him to veto the bill.

“Go back and you look at what the Governor said in his address in January-- this particular bill really doesn’t meet any of the parameters that he laid out for a bill that he would support, so I was actually surprised he was willing to sign it,” says Dickinson.

“I would argue that there is no one more accountable for the education of their kids than the parent. and we do have some safeguards in the bill. This is about providing more options,” says Monks.

Another concern among educators we spoke with is money being funneled away from public schools.

“I heard the complaints that we’re funding private schools, not one penny goes to private schools this is a bill that will reimburse parents for their cost when they choose to educate their kids outside the public system,” says Monks.

Superintendent Dickinson also spoke about potential issues with the state budget growing out of control.

“That was one of our concerns in the beginning, yeah, this bill isn’t a big amount of money, but looking at other states it tends to grow,” says Dickinson. “I think the hope is that our legislature moves cautiously in terms of looking at how and when to increase it.”

The bill signed states that the tax credit maxes out at $50 million.

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