Senate Education Committee hears testimony on parent‑supported instruction bill; committee holds measure for further review

At a hearing of the Idaho Senate Education Committee, members heard testimony on Senate Bill 10‑68, the “parent supported instruction” model, a proposal that would allow sponsoring school districts to assign teachers to work with parents who provide some or all day‑to‑day instruction and to create locally set education savings accounts for participating students. Steven Thain, the bill’s petitioner, described the model and its goal to expand options for families; school providers, teachers and parents spoke in favor and answered committee questions. The committee ultimately voted to hold the bill subject to the call of the chair.

Thain framed the proposal as a way to expand educational choice while keeping students enrolled in public schools. “Parents are not being paid a wage,” he told the committee; “instead, they’re given access to an expense account to support their child’s education.” He said roughly 11,000 students currently participate in parent‑supported instruction‑style programs statewide and argued that traditional brick‑and‑mortar districts need flexibility to compete for families.

Proponents who testified described day‑to‑day practices, eligibility checks and limits on reimbursable items. Janet Cox, director of student services for Idaho Home…