This past Friday, Idaho public school administrators sent you a letter opposing the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit (House Bill 93). Their self-serving discussion of the “fair, responsible, transparent, accountable” conditions from your State of the State address once again misrepresented private schools’ contributions to our families, students, and communities. As such, we’d like to offer our understanding of these conditions and urge you to sign House Bill 93.

While the public-school administrators offered no shortage of process-related accountability, it is striking to us that they never mention the ultimate form of accountability: the simple act of the parent choosing the school and money following that choice. As you will see below, accountability flows directly from that choice, as do the other conditions you mentioned.

Frankly, recent history causes us to question whether Idaho public schools truly operate under an accountability system. Does Idaho really have performance-based accountability when it responds to lower test scores by lowering its required standards? After the disappointment of the recent NAEP scores, what statewide public-school accountability initiative has been proposed? Clearly, the state’s process-based accountability mechanisms are lacking. Perhaps our public-school colleagues should reconsider the respect they show parent-based accountability.

The fairness complaint about who we serve is based on two false premises. First, school choice is not about making sure every single school works for every single child. Instead, it is simply about creating more and different education options for families. This impossible “every school fits every child” goal is something the public schools also fail to achieve, while we understand as every child is different. Let’s be clear: These public school administrators want you to deny thousands of Idaho families opportunities to better educate their children if just one child is unable to attend every private school across the state.

Secondly, understand that there’s a world of difference between accepting every child into public schools and their ability to serve every child well. We know public schools fail to serve every child well because we serve numerous families whose children previously attended public school. Those families left for a variety of reasons, be it better or different academics, more appropriate special education services, freedom from bullying, or the need for an education better aligned with their values.

Also remember, HB 93 prioritizes lower-income and working-class families. We’ll spare you a discussion about the unfairness in the connection between high mortgage costs or rents that screen these families out of wealthy neighborhoods and higher-performing public schools — but many of the families we serve are all too aware of this reality.

We don’t begrudge public school administrations for their limitations. Again, it is impossible for any school to serve every child well. Our simple point is that school choice – including the choice of private schools – is fairer because it maximizes the chances that all families can access the school that best fits their needs.

Multiple efforts by you and the legislature increased public school funding by billions of dollars. In response, you’ve heard these enormous funding increases are “just the start.” We would receive a little more than half of the state per-pupil allotment, and we are tremendously grateful for it because we know the life-changing difference it would make for us and the students we serve. Note these differing opinions and how hard public-school administrators are fighting to block this bill. Over time, state leaders may decide this $50 million program was the most cost-effective, “responsible” money ever spent on Idaho education.

The funding comparison is also informative of public feedback. If it becomes law, HB 93 will serve around 10,000 families. That’s roughly 3% of Idaho’s K-12 student population. While we appreciate your effort to gather information through a hotline, it should not surprise – especially with the misinformation from organizations serving 97% of the students – that you are receiving lopsided negative feedback about the bill from a highly organized system terrified of losing exclusive control of public funding.

We’ll also humbly remind this is not how republican governance works. President Trump was right to compliment you and the legislature for your leadership in this area. Idaho’s legislature showed great courage to pass this bill over the objections of the public education establishment and activists. We hope you’ll consider our points above and recognize that increased access to private school education will make Idaho an even better place to live and raise children.

We urge you to sign HB 93.

Respectfully,

Greg Wiles
Superintendent, Nampa Christian Schools

Tammy Emerich
Superintendent, Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise

Allen Howlett
Superintendent, Cole Valley Christian Schools

Wade Ortego
Head of Schools, The Ambrose School

Chris Brown
Head of School, Greenleaf Friends Academy

Katheryn King
Head of School, Watersprings School

Daniel Woods
Head of School, Lighthouse Christian School

Robert Raschke
Executive Director, Grace Lutheran Schools