Recently, Matt Compton, the political director of Idaho’s teachers’ union, referred to school choice options as “private and parochial school subsidies for wealthy families.” Despite the typical misinformation – the vast majority of programs proposed for Idaho have carve outs for low-income and working-class families — this characterization misses the mark. Wealthy families in Idaho already have access to excellent education options. They can afford homes in areas with superior public schools or pay for private school tuition, tutoring, and online courses. What truly concerns political actors like Compton is the prospect of everyone else gaining access to these options. They resort to pretend populism because they know granting families education freedom would disrupt the flow of money to their political coffers.

The current system serves as a political cash cow for certain interest groups. In many areas, public schools are among the largest employers. Teachers unions collect a percentage of teachers’ paychecks, funneling this money into politics to maintain the status quo. In the 2022 election cycle, a staggering 99.47% of teachers union campaign contributions nationwide went to Democrat candidates who supported the existing K-12 education system.

Despite the Governor and legislature giving public schools billions in additional funding over the past few years, just over half of students achieve proficiency or higher in English Language Arts while fewer than half do so in Math. Data such as this proves increased spending isn’t the only solution. Our struggles stem from a system that assigns students to schools based on zip codes rather than incentivizing schools to attract students and families.

Education is deeply valued in Idaho culture. We want our children to become self-sufficient adults who can forge their own paths and find fulfillment. We recognize that each child is unique, and their education should be tailored to their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and goals. To achieve this, parents need freedom and options – precisely what political actors like Matt Compton fight against. He argues that school choice will “undermine public education.” But does he doubt public schools’ ability to compete with innovative alternatives?

Studies show that when new schooling options enter an area, all schools improve, including traditional public schools. This “rising tide lifts all boats” and benefits all Idaho students. It’s a cliche that happens to be true. So why wouldn’t we want improved outcomes across the board?

Compton claims that “vouchers create an unequal playing field for Idaho’s children by reducing fair access to educational opportunities.” Ironically, this description better fits our current system, where school assignment is based on residence. A truly fair system would ensure that any child, regardless of family income, has access to a great education. That’s the essence of school choice. Across the country, more students are breaking the cycle of poverty by attending schools previously accessible only to the wealthy.

As education freedom expands, we’re witnessing a new dawn in American education. School choice gives all students, not just those from affluent families, opportunities to receive a customized K-12 education tailored to their needs.

While teacher’s unions feel threatened by school choice – understandably, given the risk to their political funding – it’s important to note that school choice benefits teachers too. Not every educator thrives in large, bureaucratic environments. Some prefer smaller schools or microschools, where they can teach 10-12 students with greater freedom and autonomy.

Idahoans understand the stakes: our children’s futures. Fortunately, educational freedom is gaining momentum, promising a brighter future for all students in our state.