School Leaders: Sign on to Letter of Support for Dr. Alex Adams, Appointed by U.S. President to HHS

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As you may know, Dr. Alex Adams—former Executive Director of the Idaho Public Charter School Commission—has been asked to serve the President and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a national capacity. We believe this recognition reflects not only his leadership skills, but the transformative impact he had on Idaho’s charter school community during his tenure.

Under Alex’s leadership, the Commission brought stakeholders together to pass House Bill 422, repealing and replacing outdated charter school statutes. He listened to parents, school leaders, and advocates—and built trust through collaboration. The reforms that followed didn’t just pass the legislature—they worked, improving conditions for schools and students across the state, especially those most at risk of being left behind.

We are circulating a letter of support recognizing Alex’s contributions to Idaho education and his role in elevating the charter sector through thoughtful, solutions-oriented leadership. If you would like to add your name as a signatory, please click “Sign Letter” below to send an email with your information. 

We’d be honored to include your voice in this effort to thank someone who helped shape a better future for our kids, schools, families and future workforce.

VICTORY: SB1188 Is Dead — School Choice Wins!

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The Idaho Senate will not be advancing SB1188. That means this deeply flawed bill — which threatened to strip parents of their online school choices and throw tens of thousands of students into uncertainty — is officially dead.

This is a huge win for:

  • Parents who chose online learning for their kids and refused to be silenced.

  • Educators and school leaders who spoke out, mobilized families, and defended programs that are working.

  • And most of all — for the 30,000+ Idaho students who rely on virtual education options across the state.

SB1188 would have reversed last year’s conservative reforms, expanded government bureaucracy, and forced thriving programs to seek uncertain approval from a state commission that wasn’t prepared to take them on.

It was rushed, it was wrong — and you helped stop it.

What We Learned

This fight exposed something bigger: there are powerful forces working to shut down online learning and keep parents out of the conversation. This cannot — and will not — happen on our watch.

We are already preparing for next session. We will retool, organize earlier, and come back stronger than ever to defend school choice and virtual education.

This is a win for families. And we have you to thank.

#SchoolChoiceWins #NoOnSB1188 #VirtualEducationVictory #ThankYouIdaho

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What We Learned at the SB1188 Hearing — And Why the Senate Must Kill It

Yesterday's hearing on SB1188 made one thing painfully clear: this is a deeply flawed and dangerous bill. It must be killed in the 14th Order — not amended.

We learned directly from the Director of Idaho Home Learning Academy (IHLA) — the very school targeted by this bill — that there are no guarantees they will be approved by the Charter Commission. In fact, if this bill passes, IHLA and many other district-run online programs will be forced to compete for approval, with no certainty their applications will be accepted.

The IHLA director warned that leaving their current district status without a guaranteed charter approval puts thousands of students at risk, especially rural and medically fragile children. If the Charter Commission says no, what happens to those students?

This bill doesn’t solve a problem — it creates a massive one.

Why SB1188 Must Be Stopped

  • No guarantees for schools: Charter Commission approval is not automatic, and competition will be fierce.

  • Removes parent choice: Virtual students would lose cross-district enrollment options that in-person students still have.

  • Rolls back Governor Little's conservative reforms: The bill revives bureaucracy and state micromanagement — exactly what we eliminated just last year.

  • Unfunded mandate: The Charter Commission will need a contracts expert, a virtual oversight team, and a new system — none of which exist today.

  • No leadership at the Commission: They have no permanent director, just lost their finance officer, and are in no position to expand.

Take Action Now

The Senate could act as soon as tomorrow to amend or vote on SB1188 in the 14th Order. We cannot let this bill move forward.

📢 Tell your Senator: Kill SB1188. Do not amend it.

🔗 Contact the full Senate here: https://www.idchartercoalition.org/news/2025/3/22/virtual-school-parent-contact-list-for-sb-1176-and-its-even-worse-replacement-bill-tba

We’re in the final hours. Make your voice heard before it’s too late.

#NoOnSB1188 #ProtectSchoolChoice #LetParentsChoose