House committee backs bill giving charter-school admission preference to active-duty military families

The House Committee on Education voted to send House Bill 163 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation after testimony and debate on whether charter schools should give admission preference to children of active-duty service members and certain activated Guard and Reserve personnel.

Representative David Levitt, R-Legislative District 25, told the committee the bill would add “families with at least one parent or legal guardian on active duty or active guard and reserve duty as defined in Title 10 U.S. Code §101” to the existing charter-school admission preference tiers. Levitt said the change would not alter the charter-school lottery but would raise military-connected children’s placement priority to reduce academic and social disruptions caused by frequent moves.

The bill’s sponsor framed the proposal as a low-cost measure to support service members and their children. “Ensuring a stable school environment reduces this burden, making transition easier for the entire family,” Levitt said.

Why it matters: Supporters said military families relocate much more frequently than the civilian population — Levitt cited roughly 4,200 active-duty service members in Idaho and about 2,900 dependent…