By Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon
Next month, thousands of families across Idaho will apply for the Parental Choice Tax Credit. Students in non-public schools will be eligible for up to $5,000 in reimbursements—whether for tuition, tutoring, materials, or other educational costs.
Unfortunately, the program could be derailed before it even begins. A coalition of public school districts, the teachers’ union, and even a Republican lawmaker—Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen—has sued the state to declare the tax credit unconstitutional.
Can you believe it? They are so worried about families having real choices in their children’s education that they are trying to ensure families cannot leave the government system.
School choice—letting money follow the student, not the institution—is an idea whose time has come. The government school system is a relatively recent development in human history. Rapid industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries spurred the creation of public schools to educate a growing population, but today we have to ask whether the system is fulfilling its purpose.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 41% of Idaho 4th graders are proficient in math, and just 31% of 8th graders tested as proficient. While the NAEP notes that Idaho is above the national average, that’s not saying much. Idaho taxpayers spend roughly $3 billion a year on K‑12 public schools, and results like this are unacceptable.
Yet if you ask school districts, teachers’ unions, or perhaps Rep. Mickelsen, they’ll tell you—with a straight face, I’m sure—the problem is simply not enough money. $3 billion a year, with more added every legislative session, and it’s still not enough.
It will never be enough, because all the money in the world cannot fix a broken system. The best way to improve public schools is to let them face competition.
It boggles the mind that even some Republicans—champions of free markets, admirers of Ronald Reagan—believe government is the best and only way to provide education. Imagine believing the government should run grocery stores, car dealerships, or mobile phone companies.
Imagine if the Legislature appropriated $3 billion a year to operate state-run grocery stores. If customers complained about poor service or bad quality, operators could just return to lawmakers demanding more money. Anyone proposing an alternate system would immediately be called “anti-food.”
It’s the same with public schools. I believe there is a place for them, and our state constitution requires that we fund a public school system, but it should not have a de facto monopoly on education. The Parental Choice Tax Credit is an excellent idea that will allow families—especially those without the wealth or resources to already take advantage of private or homeschooling options—to choose the best system for their children.
It is unconscionable that anyone would try to stand in their way.
About Dorothy Moon
Dorothy Moon was elected to serve as the chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party in July of 2022, and reelected in 2024. Moon served three terms in the Idaho Legislature as State Representative for District 8. Moon’s career in public service has focused on the advancement of individual liberties and reducing the size and scope of government.
