Idaho Lawmakers have been hard at work for the past several years proposing to expand what they call school choice for Idaho students. But each year, those proposals have been rejected during the Idaho State Legislative Session – but this year may be different.
This legislative session, State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield is hopeful this could be the year for the state to make a change. But she recognizes communities love and support their local public schools and worry school choice could take away from public education.
“I’m going to start off with the fact that I believe Idahoans like and support their local schools,” Critchfield said. “I think that we believe in public schools and that by in large, communities and families have been happy with their school in their own backyard.”
In his state of the state address, Gov. Brad Little said he wants legislators to set aside $50 million for private school choice. With that in mind, legislators have already written at least two proposals. One of those proposals, House Bill 39, would give qualifying families a $5,000 tax credit per qualifying child. The state would pay up to $50 million for the program. The bill was referred to the Revenue and Taxation Committee in the house.
Critchfield says she wants to make sure whatever bill is passed is one that’s written specifically for Idaho.
“We look at different states and say, well, Arizona is doing X and Florida’s doing Y. And you know, even Utah has some version of something,” Critchfield said. “I think folks are waiting to see what it looks like in our own state rather than a copy and paste of somebody else.”
She says her stance on private school choice does not mean she has turned her back on public schools, but quite the opposite.
“I think the biggest comment or feedback that I’ve gotten on this is maybe a surprise that, well, have I turned, as a state superintendent of public schools, my back on public schools because I am open to the conversation? And the answer to that is no,” Critchfield said. “In fact, my interest is being a part of the discussion and being at the table comes around the fact that I am elected to be an advocate for public schools.”
When it comes to the benefits of a private school choice, Critchfield believes it will depend on each family and child, which is exactly why she believes private school choice could open new doors and benefit Idaho families.
“I will fiercely defend and support parents’ choices when it comes to how and when and where they educate their child,” she said. “We want that child to be educated where they feel safe and where they will have the support that best helps them with the values that their families have.”
We are closely following the State Legislative Session and will let you know what legislators decide on the bill proposed during the session.