Lisa, a mom and co-founder of Pathways Christian Academy in Boise, believes that a great education that’s tailored to each child shouldn't be a luxury. But it’s heartbreaking when she gets calls every week from parents who love Pathways' small classes and hands-on learning, but just can't make the tuition work. Her experience is one example of why Idaho’s new Parent Choice Tax Credit program matters: it can help more families access schools like Pathways if that’s where their children learn best. For people who care about education freedom, stories like Lisa’s also point to something bigger: programs like this can give every family more flexibility to find the learning environment that fits their child.

Families in Boise are excited for the application period to open, ready to get their applications in since it’s first-come first-served. One mom with six kids, for example, is hopeful the credit will give her the opportunity to enroll her son at Pathways, where she knows he will thrive in their program. Another family with a child with special needs and was having a terrible time at his old school is now loving Pathways - his parents are hopeful this new program will help the school get him even more of the tailored tools he needs.

Lisa has a list of at least 15 families who are eagerly waiting to be accepted into the program before they can commit to joining Pathways. Lisa hopes that all Idaho families can gain access to the benefits the Parental Choice Tax Credit has to offer so they can be empowered in their education journey. Everyone is looking forward to this new program that can finally open the door for all the families who want to be empowered to choose the right education for their child.

At Pursuit Community School, Sammi built a homeschool-style program for families with two working parents who still want to be deeply involved in their kids' education - it’s a community for like-minded people, but it isn’t accessible to everyone. Right now, about 90% of her families navigate enrollment through a public charter fund, which includes jumping through several hoops. That’s why there is so much hope and excitement building for the new Parental Choice Tax Credit program; it represents a simpler, more direct way for families to choose what works best for their kids.

Sammi says families are already asking how it works because it feels like true education freedom — the ability to make choices based on what’s best for each child. They are looking forward to a future where they can truly own their kids' education and make choices based on what's best for each child. For many, it removes barriers that make accessing the learning environment they want unnecessarily complicated. This is especially true for the students with IEPs, who currently receive key interventions virtually under the current charter setup. Their families are hopeful that the tax credit will finally give them the ability to obtain these critical services their kids really need in person, like one-on-one tutoring or speech therapy.

Sammi’s biggest hope is that legislators see how many families are excited about this new opportunity and ensure the program continues to grow so every family can benefit.