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

BOISE — The Idaho House Committee on Education voted to send House Bill 163 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after hearing sponsor and public testimony arguing the bill would reduce school disruptions for children of military service members.

Rep. David Levitt, R‑District 25, told the committee HB 163 “provides admission preference to families with at least 1 parent or legal guardian on active duty or active guard and reserve duty as defined in Title 10 U.S. Code subsection 101.” Levitt said the change would be added to existing charter-school admission preferences and would not alter the underlying lottery process.

“The intent is to support military families by giving their children priority access to charter schools,” Levitt said. He described the bill as a way to provide “greater educational stability for military children who frequently face school disruptions due to relocations.”

Multiple witnesses, including charter-school…