As a mom of five very different kids, we’ve tried just about every form of schooling you can imagine. We’ve homeschooled, used charter schools, tried online learning, and enrolled children in public and private schools.

Each of my children is unique. What works for one child may not work for another, and what works for one child may change from year to year.

That’s why Idaho’s school choice program matters so deeply to my family, and why today’s Supreme Court ruling is a victory worth celebrating. The court’s decision to reject this lawsuit protects families’ rights to choose the best education for their children. With over 9,300 students already applying, school choice will now be reality for Idaho families.

As parents, we do our best to ensure our kids will thrive. But without help, many families, especially larger families, simply cannot afford to put their children in the educational setting that is best for them. We have five kids, and we are a middle-class family. Though we are financially stable, I could not cover private school tuition for all of my children simultaneously. The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit empowers me to enroll my children in whichever schooling environment fits them best at the time they need it most. I have personally experienced the difference this kind of flexibility can make for a child.

I have one daughter who went to kindergarten and was told she should not be sounding out words yet. It took us until third grade to get her reading confidently. As a parent, you want to trust that the system will work for your child, but sometimes it just does not.

I have also have a child who left fourth grade performing at almost a sixth-grade level in math. The following year, she had a teacher who disliked math. My daughter came out of fifth grade performing below grade level and hating math. She never fully recovered her love for the subject.

To be very clear: I have had children absolutely flourish in public schools with wonderful teachers. I am grateful for those experiences and those teachers.

There is no crystal ball to tell parents whether their child will be assigned to a great teacher or how their child’s needs will change over time. Nor is there a magic solution that would enable me to drive five kids to five different schools five days a week. Families must make practical, realistic decisions that take the whole family’s needs and resources into account. And they need to be able to pivot quickly when circumstances change. With Idaho’s school choice program, I have the flexibility I need. I know I’m not stuck if my child needs to change to a different school in order to thrive. Idaho families like mine desperately need this program.

That is why it is so meaningful to see the Idaho Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit and affirmed the constitutionality of the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit Program.

For my family, access to this program means the difference between being able to respond to my children’s needs and being limited by what we can afford. This program does not take anything away from public schools. It simply gives parents the ability to do what every parent wants – to place their child in an environment where they can succeed.

For my family, school choice isn’t about politics or legal battles. It is about doing what is best for our children, and we are thankful the court recognized the real families this program serves. I also know many struggling families who are excited to offer their children opportunities that were not available before.

 Annemaria Duran is a mother of five from Idaho who cares deeply about her children’s education.