More than 6,000 families and 13,568 students are anxiously waiting to learn whether they will receive a scholarship. Ours is one of them. It is a small story within a much larger reality: demand for educational choice in Idaho far exceeds what current programs can provide.

Even with the promise of Idaho’s new Parental Choice Tax Credit, many families may still be left out.

With the program capped at $50 million annually, demand already exceeds available funding. If each student received the full $5,000, the total would reach $64.8 million. That means some families will inevitably be turned away simply because the state runs out of funds.

When my son started kindergarten, I thought I was doing everything right.

Like most parents, my husband and I trusted that if we enrolled him in school, he would learn, grow, and thrive. But within months, it became clear something was not right. The little boy who once loved learning came home deflated every day, telling me, “I don’t like school, Mom.”

He struggled socially and fell behind academically. I could see it was not because he was not capable. He simply was not in the right environment.

We tried everything: public school, homeschooling, and even a short stretch in private school that we could barely afford. Each change brought uncertainty and stress. But everything shifted when we found the right fit, a small private school where my son was known, supported, and challenged. Almost immediately, he began to thrive.

Today, he is in fifth grade, reading above grade level, excelling in science, and catching up in math after once being years behind. More importantly, he loves learning again. He feels safe, confident, and like himself.

I have seen a similar transformation in my daughter. When she struggled with math, her school stepped in with a small “math club” designed just for her. That individualized attention helped rebuild her confidence in a way that truly changed her trajectory.

But that kind of support comes at a cost.

We are a lower middle-class family of six. We drive older cars and rarely eat out. Each month, we set aside a significant portion of my husband’s paycheck for tuition. Every year, writing that check feels overwhelming. Every semester, we ask the same question: Can we keep doing this?

Even my son feels that pressure. Before starting fifth grade, he told me, “Mom, I know it is expensive, but I really hope we can afford my school.” No child should have to carry that burden.

That is why Idaho’s Parental Choice Tax Credit matters so much to families like mine.

This program is not about taking advantage of a system. It is about getting a little breathing room. We are already making sacrifices and prioritizing our children’s education. This simply helps make that choice sustainable.

If awarded, this tax credit would ease financial pressure and allow us to focus less on how to pay for school and more on watching our children grow and succeed.

And we are not alone.

Across Idaho, thousands of families are doing everything they can to find the right educational fit for their children. We are not asking for a handout. We are asking for a chance to give our kids the best education possible.

School choice is about recognizing that every child is different. One size does not fit all, and parents are best positioned to decide what their children need to thrive.

For my son, that meant a smaller classroom and more support. For my daughter, it meant individualized attention at the right moment. For our family, it has meant sacrifice, but also incredible reward.

Idaho’s Parental Choice Tax Credit is a strong and meaningful step in the right direction. It shows that our state recognizes what parents have long known: every child deserves an education that fits their needs.

Now, we have an opportunity to build on that progress. By continuing to expand access and meet growing demand, Idaho can ensure that more families are not just hoping for a chance, but receiving one.

Because when children are in the right environment, everything changes. I have seen it in my own home, and I know this program can help many more families experience the same.

Carlye Carleton is a mother of four in Idaho who after seeing firsthand how the right environment can transform a child’s life, she now advocates for policies that expand educational opportunities for families like hers.