Idaho and Wyoming Designate Millions for Expanding School Choice

Support for greater educational freedom is moving west as lawmakers in Idaho and Wyoming increase funding for school choice, including designating funding for pre-K education. 

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program into law Thursday aimed at expanding schooling options in the state. Meanwhile, the Wyoming State Legislature passed a universal school choice bill that now sits on the Republican governor’s desk awaiting his signature. 

The Idaho legislation provides a refundable tax credit for parents of up to $5,000 per K-12 student. In combination with increased funding for K-12 public education and Idaho’s LAUNCH career readiness program, this legislation makes Idaho the first state to offer education freedom from kindergarten to career, according to Little. 

“Idaho can have it all—strong public schools and education freedom,” the governor said in a press release. “Providing high-quality education for Idaho students will always be our top priority.” 

While promoting school choice, Little said in the press release that as governor, he has invested $17 billion into the K-12 public school system and increased public school funding by close to 60%.  

Wyoming followed on the heels of Idaho, passing its own school choice bill that would allocate more than $30 million for nonpublic school scholarships. After a battle between the state Senate and House over an amendment to include coverage for pre-K, the bill passed both houses Feb. 28.  

With amendments, the final bill provides a $7000 voucher per student to pay for nonpublic school education costs. Families who want the voucher for their pre-K students, however, must be at or below 250% of the federal poverty line to apply.  

The bill is on Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk, and he is giving it careful consideration ahead of a 11:59 p.m. Tuesday deadline to act, Gordon’s press secretary told The Daily Signal.  

Catherine Gunsalus, director of state advocacy for Heritage Action for America, a conservative policy advocacy organization affiliated with The Heritage Foundation, said Heritage Action is proud to have worked alongside grassroots efforts in Idaho and Wyoming to get the measures in both states across the finish line. 

“Families deserve to educate their children according to their values, without their ZIP codes and financial situations getting in the way,” Gunsalus told The Daily Signal. “Giving parents greater financial flexibility to meet their children’s unique needs allows those children to flourish in school and have better academic outcomes. Idaho and Wyoming have joined the growing number of states across the country expanding students’ access to education opportunities through parental choice tax credits and Education Savings Accounts.” 

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