Senate Education Committee holds bill to let districts reimburse parents for some self-directed learning expenses

Former Senator Stephen Thain presented an amendment to Idaho's self-directed learner law that would permit school districts and charter schools to reimburse parents or legal guardians for educational expenses "directly related" to flexible learning arrangements for students enrolled in public schools.

Thain described the measure as a tool to help districts compete with private and online providers. Under the amendment as presented, a parent of a qualifying self-directed learner may request reimbursement for approved expenses; school districts would adopt policies and apply local procedures to evaluate requests. Thain said a district could not simply turn over state funding to a parent and that reimbursements must be tied to educational expenses and negotiated with the district. "The total reimbursement amount shall not exceed 65% of the public school funding received by the school district or public charter school," he said in describing the draft language.

Committee members raised implementation questions and concerns about oversight, fiscal impact on rural districts, the administrative burden of review, and whether such reimbursements would shift existing public funding away from small districts. Several members and public commenters said the measure could allow motivated families flexibility while potentially reducing funding available for brick-and-mortar schools; others said local control and negotiated district policies would limit misuse.

After extended discussion and public comment, Sen. Ward Engelking moved to hold Senate Bill 1017 in committee. The motion carried; the chair recorded two senators voting against the hold and announced the motion carried.