(The Center Square) – The Idaho Senate passed a school choice bill Wednesday to help families cover the costs of sending their children to private schools.
The $50 million proposal (Idaho House Bill 93) would give qualifying families a $5,000 tax credit per student to cover private education expenses, including tuition. The credit would be $7,500 for the families of special needs students.
The Idaho Senate passed the bill 20-15 on Wednesday after the state House of Representatives passed it 42-28 last week.
It now heads to Gov. Brad Little’s desk, a supporter of school choice.
State Sen. C. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, supported the measure, calling it fiscally responsible.
Grow challenged the notion that private school choice takes funding from public schools.
“One, they’re paying taxes, and two, their kids are not going to public schools, so that’s saving approximately $9,000 per student,” Grow said during the Senate debate.
“It’s not taking money away from public schools in that sense,” he added.
Another supporter, Sen. Camille Blaylock, R-Caldwell, said the bill would help families educate their children how they see fit while providing them financial relief.
“This is just another avenue for more options in our state,” she said. “I think it’s a good, innovative step, and I think Idaho is ready to make it.”
The bill received pushback from different factions.
Sen. Brandon Shippy, R-New Plymouth, who strongly supports homeschooling, opposed the bill.
Shippy argued that the government giving parents money for private school tuition and supplies would increase the cost of school supplies for homeschooled students.
Shippy also argued that it would create more government dependence.
“Whenever you take an independent people, self-reliant, and you create government dependence, which is what this bill will accomplish,” he said. “The first generation is thankful. They are appreciative. The second generation expects it. The third generation demands it.”
Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, said private schools are discriminatory.
“Vouchers, tax credits, ESAs are not about expanding parental choice – because it’s the school who gets to choose – not the parents,” she said during the debate. “On the other hand, public schools serve, help, and bless every child. No child is turned away.”
A recent Mountain States Policy Center poll found that 66% of Idaho voters back the proposed tax credit program, while just 24% oppose it. A majority (53%) of Democrats support the proposal.
“Families win,” MSPC President Chris Cargill said in a statement following the vote. “Lawmakers have seen the research and have responded in a historic way.”
