Editor’s note: This article appeared Tuesday on idahostateman.com.
Idaho lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly shot down a bill that would create scholarship accounts that families could use for students’ tuition and fees at private grade schools. The motion to hold the bill in committee passed 8-7 after multiple lawmakers and members of the public raised concerns that it would harm public schools and wasn’t a constitutional use of state dollars.
The bill would have allocated an estimated $12.7 million of Idaho public schools’ budget in the first year for the scholarships. Families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade would have been able to receive about $5,950 in state funds, according to the current estimates.
The funds could then be used for expenses including tuition and fees at private schools or non-public online learning systems, certain tutoring services and technology.
Under the bill, parents would have had to apply for the scholarship through the State Department of Education and promised not to enroll their student in public school during the time they’re receiving the funds.
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