BOISE, Idaho — Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 93 on Thursday to create a Parental Choice Tax Credit program — the program will allow parents to receive up to a $5,000 tax credit per child to use for private education.
Proponents of the bill say it will broaden educational opportunities for families, allowing them to have more control over their child's education. The bill text also included a measure to retroactively put it into effect as of Jan. 1, 2025.
“Idaho can have it all — strong public schools AND education freedom. Providing high-quality education for Idaho students will always be our top priority," Little said.
RELATED: Private schools see Parental Choice Tax Credit as a potential boost to enrollment
The tax credits could be used to cover the cost of private school or homeschooling, including reimbursements for tuition, textbooks, and transportation.
"With the passage of the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program, Idaho boasts even more abundant schooling options for Idaho students and families," Gov. Little said in a press release. "Combined with the continuation of Idaho’s astoundingly successful LAUNCH program, Idaho has become the first state to offer education freedom from kindergarten through career. "
RELATED: Idaho Legislature passes $50 million parental choice tax credit bill
The Idaho Joint Democratic Legislative Caucus released the following statement regarding Gov. Little’s decision to sign the bill: “The governor has sacrificed his legacy as a pro-public schools governor and a fiscal conservative by signing a bill that siphons public dollars to subsidize private school tuition for the wealthy. The people of Idaho can now expect what has happened in other voucher states: starved public schools, higher property taxes as local districts will be forced to run bonds and levies, and exploding state budgets that threaten infrastructure and public safety.”
The Idaho Education Association President Layne McInelly also released a statement in response to HB 93: "Bringing vouchers to Idaho is a huge mistake. House Bill 93 is just the beginning. Voucher proponents — eager to help out-of-state billionaires plunder Idaho’s public school budget — are already planning how to exploit and expand this program during 2026’s legislative session. Each year, they will try to siphon more and more tax dollars away from public schools as a gift to private and religious schools and their patrons. It’s a well-worn pattern that has already played out in every other state that has adopted these taxpayer-funded subsidies for the wealthy."
