They won’t listen.
So we’ll vote them out.

The Idaho Legislature has declared war on public education — from fast-tracking private school vouchers to attacking vulnerable students and censoring classrooms. They’ve ignored public outcry, undermined local control and refused to fund our schools.

If we want a better future for our students and our profession, it starts now —
and it starts with us.

7

May Matters: Save Our Schools at the Ballot Box

The Problem

Lawmakers are attacking Idaho’s public schools with vouchers, book bans, censorship and chronic underfunding — and they’re ignoring public opinion to do it. The 2025 legislative session is shaping up to be the worst in over a decade. If we don’t change who’s in power, we all will keep paying the price.

May 2026 Matters

May Matters is your union’s statewide movement to elect pro-public education candidates in the May 2026 primary election — when the real decisions in Idaho politics are made. We’re organizing and building a coalition to take back the Legislature, one seat at a time. Because when IEA members vote, we win.

How You Can Help

Start by making sure you’re registered to vote in the May primaries — and talk to your colleagues about doing the same. Step up to support local levies, school board races and eventually candidates who believe in public education. From door-knocking to donating to PACE, you can choose how involved to be — but above all, you must vote.

7

Contribute to PACE

The Political Action Committee for Education (PACE) uses voluntary contributions from IEA members and their families to support pro-public education candidates in Idaho.

 

Make a New ContributionManage an Existing Contribution

What’s Next

May Matters is just getting started — and we want you with us from the beginning. Whether you’re ready to knock doors, help find great candidates, or just want to stay in the loop, there’s a place for you in this movement. Add your name to our list and be the first to know about new opportunities, updates and ways to take action.

More is coming — and we’re building it together.

Membership Matters

Idaho’s public schools are under attack — and the only thing powerful enough to fight back is us. When more educators join the IEA, our voice grows louder, our movement grows stronger and our impact at the ballot box gets bigger.

If you believe in protecting your students, your profession and your future, there’s never been a more important time to join your union.

Stop SCROLLING.

Start Registering.

Attacks On Public Education

This year’s legislative session was filled with bills and votes that threaten the future of Idaho’s public schools. See below for a sampling. Lawmakers pushed an aggressive agenda that intentionally undermined educators, students and the very foundation of public education.

School Vouchers

House Bill 93 created Idaho’s first voucher scheme that legalizes the government facilitation of public dollars siphoned to private schools — schools that owe no transparency to taxpayers, can discriminate in who they admit and are not required to serve students with disabilities — undermining both public accountability and equity in education.

 

$50 Million to Private Schools

High-Needs Student Fund

House Bill 291 would have provided critical funding relief for public schools serving students with the highest needs, but it failed by one vote — leaving already underfunded districts to cover steep special education costs, while lawmakers ignore the state’s legal and ethical obligation to educate all students.

 

Failed By 1 Vote

LGBTQ+ Instruction Ban

House Bill 352 mandates that schools prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through 12th grade and allows parents to withdraw their children from any activity they object to, undermining comprehensive education and preventing educators from serving all of their students.

 

Signed Into Law

Mandatory Bible Reading in Classrooms

House Bill 162 mandates daily Bible readings in public schools, potentially violating the Idaho Constitution’s ban on religious instruction and contributing to an exclusionary learning environment that alienates students from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds.

 

Referred to Committee

Are you mad yet?

Attend a town hall near you.

This spring, we’re hitting the road. The IEA and coalition partners will host a series of town halls across the state to talk with Idahoans about what’s happening at the legislature, how it impacts public education and what we can do together to take back power.

These events will be your chance to ask questions, get involved and help shape the future of this campaign. More details — including dates, locations and how to attend — are coming soon.

IEA Reporter News

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