A proposed school choice tax credit bill recently passed the Idaho House of Representatives and is currently under review as lawmakers consider its potential impact. KMVT spoke with local private school leaders and homeschool advocates to get their thoughts on the legislation.
Mindy Petramalo, principal of Acton Academy, a private school in Twin Falls, expressed cautious optimism about the bill. She believes Idaho already offers some school choice, but feels those choices are limited. “If we did have a choice, we could use our tax dollars to educate our children in the way or location that works best for them,” Petramalo said.
She criticized the current system, saying, “The message is, ‘As long as we’re involved, you have a choice.’ The funding comes from the public sector.” Petramalo supports House Bill 93, which would provide families with more educational options, especially for those seeking private schools.
“A lot of parents want to send their kids here, but the cost is a major barrier,” she explained. “They see our approach and philosophy, and they recognize that their child may learn differently or thrive in a different environment. If money is not an issue, or financial aid is available, private schools can play a much bigger role in education.”
The bill proposes a refundable tax credit of 5,000 per year for elementary school students and 7,000 for students with special needs to cover “qualified expenses.” This credit would also apply to homeschooling families. However, not all homeschoolers support the legislation.
Aby Rinella, who represents homeschoolers in Idaho, strongly opposes the bill. “We don’t want any school choice legislation passed in Idaho,” Rinella said. “We want government funds not to be used for private education options.”
Rinella believes government funding undermines the independence of homeschooling. “School choice legislation eliminates real choice because it becomes a government-funded choice,” she said. “With taxes comes regulation and accountability, which will affect all homeschoolers, whether they are funded or not. We don’t want that.”
Rinella stressed that homeschoolers value freedom more than financial incentives. “The only people who will benefit from this bill are those who are willing to sacrifice a little freedom for money,” she said. “Homeschoolers in Idaho want only one thing: nothing. We want nothing. We are the only group showing up at the state capitol asking for nothing. We want to be trusted with business as usual to educate our children completely free of charge.”
Rinella and Idaho Homeschooling urged lawmakers to have a conversation before moving forward with the bill. “Whether they agree with us or not, we will attend any meeting to share the voice of Idaho homeschoolers and explain how important freedom is to us,” she said.
As the debate continues, the potential impact of the school choice tax credit remains a contentious issue, with private schools and homeschoolers having very different views on its impact on education in Idaho.
