Idaho bill to create school vouchers clears first hurdle. What would it really do?
Idaho private school families could soon claim state education funds.
The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday passed a bill that would create education savings accounts, a voucher-like mechanism that would allow private school and home-school families to draw state funding for tuition, uniforms, tutoring and other education expenses.
“Children should not be put in a box, because one size doesn’t fit all,” said bill sponsor Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, during a public hearing Tuesday. “Every child is unique and so is their educational experience.”
Republicans across the country are pushing for similar legislation, part of a decadeslong movement to free-up state money for private schooling that has accelerated in recent years. Republicans in Iowa and Utah last month passed similar legislation creating education savings accounts, often known as school vouchers.
Nichols’ proposal would cost the state about $45 million in the first year, according to the sponsors. This year, the Idaho Legislature appropriated $3.4 billion for K-12 public schools.
Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, who is co-sponsoring the bill, said about 1% of Idaho’s roughly 330,000 K-12 school-aged children are likely to use the funds, but he didn’t know how that number might change in the coming years after it’s implemented.
“I would expect it to grow,” he said.
The bill drew significant attention from Idahoans across the state and interest groups, leading to a public hearing that stretched across two days. Those opposed to the bill argued it would take away already scarce funding from public schools, particularly in rural areas, and direct the money to exclusive private schools that are unaccountable to the public.
“We’ve underfunded public education for years,” said Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise. “I think we’re trying to do the right thing now, with the investment we’re making in education and with educators. I’d like to see us actually get that done and see what the results are, before we start siphoning off money for education for private and religious schools.”
What would the bill do?
The legislation would allow parents with children who aren’t enrolled in public or charter schools to collect about $6,000 in state funds annually. That’s 80% of what the state gives public school districts per student every year.
The bill would create “universal” education savings accounts for which families whose students are enrolled in private school can apply, with no income limits or other restrictions.
The funds could only be used for education-related expenses listed in the bill. In addition to tuition, computer equipment, uniforms and other private school necessities, the allowable expenses include public transportation to school and extra-curricular activities that are offered in public schools.
A six-person committee of parents enrolled in the program, appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, would oversee its implementation and field complaints from enrollees.
The state would have no oversight on how the students are educated. The bill notes that it does not grant a government agency authority to “exercise control or supervision” over private schools with students using education savings accounts.
“The accountability actually starts with the parents,” Nichols said. “We believe that by giving the education funds back to the families that they will utilize those in a way that is going to benefit their students, not government bureaucrats.”
Public reaction mixed
Dozens of people testified for and against the bill during the two-day hearing. Among the most common criticisms were the lack of accountability measures and the plan to draw state general funds away from public schools.
Most Idaho public school districts rely on local taxpayers to supplement maintenance and operations costs that aren’t covered by state funds.
About $850 million is needed to address maintenance needs across the state, according to a recent report by the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations. A current proposal in the Legislature would allocate $61 million a year for school facilities, with the money doled out based on student-occupied square footage and attendance.
“Monies from our underfunded public schools that serve all children will be gutted to support this program,” said Elizabeth Noonan, a former community college teacher. “Remarkably, there’s no oversight or accountability for the actual education the students will get in their private, religious and for-profit schools. How will we know what they are learning, even though we are paying for it?”
An October survey commissioned by the Idaho Statesman found the majority of Idaho residents oppose directing taxpayer money to private schools. According to the results, 63% of all adults surveyed said taxpayer money shouldn’t be used to help residents pay for private school, while 23% of respondents said it should be used. The remaining 14% of respondents said they weren’t sure.
Supporters of the bill expressed frustration at achievement results in Idaho public schools and said the education savings accounts would let parents choose schools tailored to their children’s needs.
Education leaders oppose proposal
Conservative advocacy groups, including the Idaho Freedom Foundation and Citizens Alliance of Idaho, support the bill. Anna Miller, education policy director for the Freedom Foundation, noted that the program would have limitations on how the money could be used.
“These mechanisms provide accountability, security and transparency for taxpayers,” Miller told the committee. “They’ve been proven to work in other (education savings account) programs across the country.”
Idaho’s teachers’ union and groups representing school boards,administrators and rural schools oppose the bill.
Dale Layne, of the Idaho Rural Schools Association, said private schools are rare in rural areas, and enrollment is restrictive. He read from a rural private school’s disclaimer that it doesn’t have appropriate staffing to accommodate students with special needs.
“Similar admission policies are in place for private schools around the state, whether they are in a rural or suburban area,” Layne said. “The result is that there is no private school choice for all students, but rather state dollars paying for existing private school students.”
In Arizona, a limited voucher program launched in 2011 started with a $2.5 million annual price tag. After lawmakers last year expanded the program to all students, the state is expected to spend $313 million on vouchers during this school year, the Arizona Republic recently reported.
Meanwhile, the Arizona program, which also has no income cap for families seeking aid, attracted primarily applicants who were already enrolled in private school, the Arizona Mirror reported.
A single GOP ‘no’ vote
Votes from six Republicans advanced the bill to the full Senate. Four said their children are in private school or are home-schooled.
“Not every child is successful in the traditional setting, they all have different learning styles,” said Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins, who said she’s a parent of both public school and home-schooled students. ”We need to give all students the funding to learn.”
Sen. Dave Lent, R-Idaho Falls, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, was the sole Republican to oppose the bill. Lent, a former school board trustee, said a public school system has accountability measures over “precious tax dollars,” for which he is a steward, but education savings accounts would not.
“We will not know how those students do,” he said. “As a representative of my constituents, I cannot in good faith send money out with no accountability. “
