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Committee advances bill to expand dual‑credit access for homeschooled students, allow repeat college entrance exams
Summary
House Bill 175 would let homeschooled students use community college pathways to access Advanced Opportunities funds, permit multiple attempts at college entrance exams, align private‑school cost language with public school rules and add counseling requirements; the committee sent the bill to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.
The Idaho House Committee on Education on Feb. 13 voted to send House Bill 175 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The bill, sponsored by Representative Horman, would expand pathways and technical rules in the state’s Advanced Opportunities program.
Representative Matthew (Matt) Horman described the bill as giving families “another option” when local districts are not cooperating: “This bill looks to just give them another option which is allow them to work through their community college for dual credits.” The measure clarifies that homeschooled students may access Advanced Opportunities through community colleges if they have difficulty working with a local district, and it allows students to take a college entrance exam more than once.
Horman said the bill also includes technical alignments requested by the State Department of Education (SDE): changing language from “tuition and fees” to “educational costs” to match Opportunity Scholarship language, adjusting course‑failure language so private and public school rules align, and requiring private‑school students to consult a counselor after earning 15 Advanced Opportunities credits. Horman and witnesses said the changes aim to reduce barriers families face when seeking college credit in high school.
Committee members asked for clarification on program mechanics and funding. Jared Tatro (Legislative Services Office) and the sponsor said Advanced Opportunities accounts are roughly $4,625 and that the Opportunity Scholarship is a separate program (described in committee as about $3,500). Representative Mathias said he would not support the motion on technical grounds as drafted, arguing “college entrance exams and preliminary college entrance exams are not post secondary credit bearing or CTE certificate exams, so that is a legal incongruity I'm not comfortable with,” and he recorded a nay. Representative Ehart moved the motion to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation; the chair voted aye and the motion carried.
The bill received no public testimony at the committee hearing. Sponsors and supporters urged the committee to let the printed bill receive public feedback so families and institutions can identify remaining technical issues before the measure receives further floor consideration.
