Public schools are in dire need of grassroots support. This legislative session brings with it at least two bills to spend your tax dollars on private schools, without any accountability or transparency at this point. While the legislators pushing these bills or supporting it say it won’t impact public school funding, the $50 million set aside for private school funding could be used in the state’s general fund to support public schools, infrastructure improvements, or simply a tax break for every citizen. Butte County School District will not be immune to this impact, and you as taxpayers will be paying for students who are already attending private schools in large communities where the vast majority of private schools exist rather than having your taxes improve your local schools.
The large majority of students in Idaho attend public schools. Parents and community members need to be active in contacting their legislators in both the house and senate and the governor to let them know you are opposed to funding private schools without accountability, transparency, and access – or at all. Seventeen counties have no private schools and nine counties have one. The bulk of private schools are in Ada and Kootenai Counties far removed from small rural counties like Butte.
These private school funding bills are pitched as parent choice, but the reality is the private schools control who they let in and keep. Parents can apply, but if their children have high cost needs – special education, behavior, etc. – the likelihood is that they won’t be accepted. Further, the funding is supposed to follow the student, but once received the funds stay at the private school even if you decide to re-enroll your child in public school…