House Bill 93 — Idaho’s new education choice program — is already shaking things up. And that’s a good thing.
For too long, many public schools have assumed families will automatically choose them. Those days are over. As Quinn Perry of the Idaho School Boards Association recently told school leaders, “It’s time for you to start marketing yourself.” She’s right. Parents want to see results — not just hear promises.
The real question – why did it take so long (and the passage of new legislation) for public school leaders to realize this?
Whether a family chooses public, private, or homeschool, every school should be able to clearly explain how it’s helping students succeed. Test scores, graduation rates, career readiness — these aren’t just numbers. They’re proof points. And if a school can’t show them to parents, it runs the risk of losing those families to other options.
House Bill 93 is more than just a tax credit — it’s a catalyst for innovation in education. By giving families up to $5,000 (or $7,500 for students with disabilities) to use on private education options, homeschooling expenses, or tutoring, the program empowers parents to choose the learning environment that best fits their child. That flexibility encourages all schools to raise their game, sparks new ideas in teaching, and ensures that education funding follows students, not systems. HB 93 puts parents in the driver’s seat — and when families have the power to choose, students benefit most.
There’s a reason why a super majority of Idahoans supported the tax credit.
Some critics of HB 93, including Idaho State Board of Education President Kurt Liebich, worry about accountability. Fair enough. But here’s the catch: those accountability questions should apply to all schools — including the ones funded with billions in taxpayer dollars every year.
Before lawmakers expand HB 93, Liebich wants to know: Where did the money go? Is it improving achievement? Is it hurting rural schools? Good questions. Now, let’s ask them of the public system, too.
Competition isn’t something to fear — it’s something to embrace. HB 93 could push every Idaho school to do what it should have been doing all along: prove its value to families, earn their trust, and proudly tell its story.
When schools compete to deliver the best education, students win.
