Religious charter schools are not real — and in Idaho, they cannot become real. If they ever did, it would harm the more than 30,000 students currently enrolled in Idaho’s public charter schools. Families in the Gem State who seek religious education for their children already have a thriving private and faith-based school sector to choose from, supported by newly enacted state and federal tax credit programs. Idaho’s school choice ecosystem is strong, and misleading the public with rhetoric about religious charter schools is a distraction and a disservice to students, families, and educators.

Let’s stick to the facts: Idaho’s charter schools are public schools. According to Title 33, Chapter 52 of Idaho Code:

“A public charter school shall be nonsectarian in its programs, affiliations, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations, shall not charge tuition, levy taxes, or issue bonds, and shall not discriminate against any student on any basis prohibited by the federal or state constitution or any federal, state, or local law. Public charter schools shall comply with the federal individuals with disabilities education act. Admission to a public charter school shall not be determined according to the place of residence of the student or of the student’s parent or guardian within the district.”

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond, did not open the door to religious charter schools in Idaho. The Court was split 4–4 on whether denying a religious charter school application in Oklahoma violated the U.S. Constitution’s religion clauses. The ruling upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision that a school intending to “evangelize” a particular faith could not be publicly chartered. Idaho’s charter school laws remain constitutional and unchanged following this ruling.

Since being authorized in the late 1990s, Idaho’s public charter schools have proven to be a high-value option for families, students, and taxpayers. Over the past decade alone, charter schools have added approximately 15,800 new school seats—compared to about 11,000 created by all of Idaho’s school districts combined. They are a leading force in meeting student demand, and they do so at lower cost than district-run schools.

Charter schools receive state and federal funds but are not allowed to levy local taxes or charge tuition. They are open enrollment, non-discriminatory, and serve all students — including those with special needs and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Idaho charter students also take the same state tests as their district peers — and on average, outperform them.

Charter teachers and administrators are part of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI). These schools must comply with public meeting and records laws, and they are subject to involuntary closure for reasons including financial insolvency or risk to student welfare — accountability measures not required of private or religious schools.

In 2025, Idaho joined dozens of states in enacting laws that allow public dollars to support private and religious school families. Governor Little signed legislation creating the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit Program, which, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission, provides nearly $50 million in state funding to help families cover private school expenses. The program allows a tax credit of up to $5,000 per eligible student — or $7,500 for a student with a qualifying disability.

Further expanding these options, President Trump signed the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” on July 4, 2025. This legislation establishes a new federal tax credit for individuals who donate to 501(c)(3) nonprofits that offer scholarships for K–12 students. If Idaho leverages this program, even more support will be available for families choosing private and faith-based schools — without undermining the nonsectarian foundation of public charter schools.

Idaho is right having two lanes for school choice – one public that includes our public charter schools and one private that includes our state’s religious schools.