Idaho’s Voucher Law Isn’t About Choice. It’s About Priorities.

The first time I walked into a public-school board meeting, I wasn’t a legislator or a foundation member. I was simply a parent with questions. Like so many others, I wanted to understand the options available for my children and figure out what would be best for my family.

For us, that meant a mix of homeschooling and public schooling. As a board member for the Kimberly Schools Foundation, I’ve seen firsthand how public schools anchor our communities. For other families, the right choice might be a neighborhood public school, a charter school, an online academy, or a private school. Idaho has long supported families with these options, and we should continue to do so.

But when supporters of House Bill 93 claim that the new voucher law—diverting public tax dollars to private school tuition—is about “school choice,” I must push back. This law doesn’t create new choices. It shifts who pays for those choices and what we’re willing to give up along the way.

Here’s how it works: under this new program, Idaho taxpayers will cover private school tuition at $5,000 per student—or $7,500 for students with special needs. At first glance, that might sound like a generous investment in kids. But there’s a catch: there are no guardrails.

Schools receiving these funds are not required to:

• Follow state curriculum standards

• Employ certified teachers

• Report testing outcomes

• Disclose how taxpayer funds are spent

• Conduct staff background checks

Public schools are held to all of these standards—and more—because they are accountable to the public. Private schools are not.

Worse, this year’s voucher program comes with $50 million in state funding with an opportunity for expansion. That was by design. Other states that opened the door to vouchers have seen costs explode, draining public school budgets and leaving taxpayers on the hook. Idaho is now walking that same path.

Meanwhile, our public schools are already stretched thin. Governor Little has warned that the education budget faces shortfalls. Districts are struggling to retain teachers, maintain facilities, and support students—especially with an $82 million gap in special education funding. Instead of solving these challenges, the state is siphoning tens of millions to private schools with zero oversight.

Idaho’s Constitution is clear: our duty is to provide a uniform, thorough, and free public education for Idaho children. It does not obligate us to fund private schools. That’s what’s at stake here—our ability to meet our constitutional duty to every Idaho child.

If this concerns you, there are two ways to act:

1. Sign the Not a Dollar More petition. This effort calls on lawmakers to place a cap on voucher spending and protect public school funding from unchecked growth.

2. Speak up. Talk to your neighbors. Contact your legislators. Write a letter to your local paper or share your thoughts online. Make sure your community understands how these decisions affect your schools, your property taxes, and the future of your town.

Idaho can support educational choice without undermining the public schools that serve as the backbone of our communities. But that will only happen if we are honest about what’s happening—and act before more damage is done.

About the Author

Chenele Dixon is the Executive Director of Idaho Solutions and a former state legislator. She resides in Kimberly, Idaho.