Idaho Educators Say No to School Vouchers

Teachers and school leaders in Idaho are speaking out against new laws that could send public money to private schools. They argue that this would be a waste of taxpayers' money and wouldn't help students much. Last Monday, they held a press conference at the Capitol to share their concerns. They think the state should put more money into public schools instead. One former lawmaker, Julie Yamamoto, warned that these school choice plans could cost a lot and might not work well. She pointed to what happened in Arizona, where a similar program got expensive and some people even cheated. Other educators, like Melyssa Ferro and Teresa Rae, agree that Idaho needs to invest more in its public schools. Some politicians want to give parents tax credits to pay for private school tuition. Rep. Clint Hostetler has already introduced a bill like this. But these educators worry that it could take money away from public schools that need it more. They're urging lawmakers to think twice before passing these kinds of laws.