On Friday the Idaho State Tax Commission released its first comprehensive data set on the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program, a private‑school voucher initiative created by Republican Gov. Brad Little and GOP legislators through House Bill 93. The report shows that a typical credit covers tuition for a family of four earning $178,000, and that most of the students receiving the credits have never attended an Idaho public school.

Governor’s response

Gov. Little said his administration “went above and beyond to provide as much information and data as possible while protecting taxpayers’ personal information.” He added that the report gives policymakers “a clearer picture of the program and provides the best available data to evaluate its effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure it continues to serve Idahoans well.”

Critics highlight income and attendance gaps

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D‑Boise, called the findings a “lie” about the voucher scheme, noting that the program was promoted as a way to help low‑income children leave public schools for “supposedly better‑performing” private schools. Rubel pointed out that more than half of the families awarded credits are above the income threshold Republicans promised to prioritize, and nearly three‑quarters of the students have never attended an Idaho public school.

Rubel argued that voters deserved this information before the November 3 election, when all 105 state lawmakers and the governor were up for re‑election, and urged that the program be repealed or at least have subsidies for higher‑income families ended.

What the data reveal

The commission’s findings include:

• Typical credit recipient: family of four, $178,000 income, children never enrolled in public school.
• More than 50% of credit‑receiving families exceed the low‑income threshold originally emphasized by supporters.
• Approximately 75% of students benefiting from the credits have no prior public‑school attendance record.

These figures challenge a core selling point of the voucher program – that it expands educational choice for families who could not otherwise afford private schooling.

Additional transparency

Beyond the required data points, the report also lists the private schools receiving state reimbursements, a detail not mandated by HB 93. While the Tax Commission had previously denied records requests, it published the report ten days after the election, providing a timely look at the program’s first year.

Stakeholders on both sides of the debate now have a clearer basis for assessing the program’s impact and considering potential adjustments.

Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.