Governor Signs H93 And Now There's a School Choice Program for Every Idaho Family!

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Idaho Expands Educational Opportunities for All Families

Governor Brad Little has signed House Bill 93 into law, creating a refundable tax credit for non-public school students. This legislation rounds out Idaho’s comprehensive approach to education funding, ensuring that all families—whether they choose public, private, charter, or home education—now have support.

Comprehensive Educational Support Programs in Idaho

Idaho now offers a full portfolio of school choice programs to support every student:

  • Idaho LAUNCH – Grants covering up to 80% of tuition and fees (up to $8,000) for high school seniors pursuing college or trade school.

  • Empowering Parents Grants – Helps public school families pay for educational tools and services.

  • H.B. 93 – Refundable tax credit for non-public school students, including those in private schools, homeschooling, micro-schools, learning pods, and tutoring programs.

Increased Funding for Traditional Public Schools

While Idaho expands school choice, the state is also making major investments in traditional public education:

  • Superintendent Debbie Critchfield's Funding Initiatives:

    • $24 million for a weighted funding formula to support students with additional needs.

    • $3 million for a special needs student fund to assist schools in covering high-cost special education needs.

    • $65 million for career-technical education (CTE) programs in high schools.

  • Legislative Proposals to Increase Public School Funding:

    • H.B. 75 – Establishes a Public Education Facilities Fund for school infrastructure improvements.

    • S.B. 1096 – Implements a weighted student funding model to allocate more resources for students with greater needs.

Key Charter School-Related Legislation

Beyond funding, Idaho lawmakers are considering several important bills related to charter schools and educational policies:

  • H.B. 163 – Gives active-duty military families priority access to public charter schools, allowing them to move to the top of waitlists. (Read More)

  • H.B. 256 – Expands the Public Charter School Facilities Program, making it easier for charter schools to finance facility improvements. (Read More)

  • H.B. 257 – Revises charter school operations and admissions policies to improve transparency and efficiency. (Read More)

  • S.B. 1032 – Requires school districts to implement policies limiting the use of electronic devices in classrooms, ensuring a more focused learning environment.

  • S.B. 1044 – Establishes proficiency benchmarks for cursive handwriting in Idaho schools to reinforce fundamental literacy skills.

Idaho’s Commitment to Every Family

With these initiatives, Idaho is leading the way in supporting all educational choices—from public schools and charter schools to homeschooling, private schools, and virtual learning. No matter how you choose to educate your child, there is now a program designed to support your family’s choice.

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