Idaho's Private Education Tax Credit Primarily Benefits Wealthy Families, Report Reveals
A new report from the Idaho State Tax Commission indicates that the state's $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program largely benefits wealthy families whose children were already enrolled in private schools. The report, released for the first time, shows that 12,216 students received a tax credit or advance payment, with 80.7% attending private schools and 19.3% homeschooling. Crucially, 74.7% of these students had never attended a public school. The average adjusted gross income for recipient households is $178,000, significantly higher than Idaho's median household income of $84,234. Additionally, 93.5% of the tax credits covered tuition expenses. The program, established last year through House Bill 93 by GOP members of the Legislature and Governor Brad Little, was initially promoted as a means to help students who couldn't otherwise afford private education options. The Idaho Education Association (IEA) has criticized the program, calling it a 'failed experiment' and noting that nearly two-thirds...
