Capitol Letters: Education savings account bill advances

By Ryan Suppe, State Politics Reporter

Idaho private school families could soon claim state education funds.

The Senate Education Committee passed a bill that would create education savings accounts, a voucher-like mechanism that would allow private school and home-school families to draw state funding for tuition, uniforms, tutoring and other education expenses.

“Children should not be put in a box, because one size doesn’t fit all,” said bill sponsor Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, during a public hearing Tuesday. “Every child is unique and so is their educational experience.”

Republicans across the country are pushing for similar legislation, part of a decadeslong movement to free-up state money for private schooling, which has accelerated in recent years. Republicans in Iowa and Utah last month passed similar legislation creating education savings accounts, often known as school vouchers.

Nichols’ bill drew significant attention from Idahoans across the state and interest groups, leading to a public hearing that stretched across two days. Those opposed to the bill argued it would take away already scarce funding from public schools, particularly in rural areas, and direct the money to exclusive private schools that are unaccountable to the public.

“We’ve underfunded public education for years,” said Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise. “I think we’re trying to do the right thing now, with the investment we’re making in education and with educators. I’d like to see us actually get that done and see what the results are, before we start siphoning off money for education for private and religious schools.”

Read my full story here.

House OKs Greater Idaho talks

The Idaho House approved a resolution yesterday asking the Oregon Legislature to discuss ceding its conservative counties to the Gem State, to form a “Greater Idaho.”

“We’re just engaging in a more formalized conversation,” said Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, who is co-sponsoring the legislation.

The joint memorial, which requires Senate approval, passed the House despite bipartisan opposition and some ribbing from Democrats. Rep. Colin Nash, D-Boise, made a flippant motion to introduce “Greater Montana” into the discussion as well.

Rep. Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls, said he supported the memorial because it has no fiscal impact.

“It does just basically encourage the discussion,” Clow said. “The reality is I don’t believe this will ever happen.”

Book bans?

At least one Idaho school district has restricted books for its students in anticipation of a legislative bill that would remove certain books from school libraries.

Kuna School District spokesperson Allison Westfall told the Idaho Statesman in an email Wednesday that the district has placed several books on its “behind the shelf” policy, which means that students need parental permission to check out a book on restricted status.

The list of 25 books came from the Idaho Association of School Administrators, which shared a legislative update to Region Three superintendents, Westfall said.

Read the full story here.

What to expect today

• 9 a.m. House Education. Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, looks to introduce legislation related to free speech on campus.

• 9 a.m. House State Affairs. Public hearings on a bill to ban student IDs as voter identification and a resolution in support of the electoral college are on the docket.

• 3 p.m. Senate Health and Welfare. Lawmakers will consider a resolution that would encourage the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to make a plan addressing underfunded emergency medical services.

• 3 p.m. Senate Local Government and Taxation. A bill from Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, that would withhold taxes from local governments defying the state’s abortion ban is on the docket. The House passed the bill.

Find the full list of committee meetings and agendas for the House here, and for the Senate here.

What else happened?

Keep track of high-profile bills as they go through the legislative process. You can find yesterday’s updates here.

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