The Idaho Education Association, along with a coalition of petitioners and supporters including IEA Board of Directors member Marta Hernandez, filed a case asking the Idaho Supreme Court to strike down the state’s new voucher program.
Why it matters: The lawsuit challenges the state’s new private school voucher law as unconstitutional — a move that could shape the future of public education in Idaho for decades.
Driving the news: The coalition’s argument is fairly straightforward and hinges on the actual text of the Idaho Constitution:
- The Constitution requires lawmakers to “establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public free common schools.”
- IEA argues vouchers create a taxpayer-funded system that is neither general, uniform, nor free.
What they’re saying: “This isn’t just about striking down one bad law,” IEA President Layne McInelly said. “It’s about protecting every student’s right to a strong neighborhood school and showing lawmakers that educators will not sit silently when public schools are undermined.”
The latest: On Friday, the Supreme Court granted the coalition’s petition to expedite its challenge to the state’s new voucher law. The court ordered the State of Idaho to file a response to the coalition’s filing by Oct. 10.
“While this ruling does not guarantee a favorable outcome, it is an encouraging sign that the Supreme Court wants to hear the arguments and will consider our petition for Writ of Prohibition against the state’s enactment of this law,” said IEA Executive Director Paul Stark.
What’s next: A ruling could be months away. In the meantime, IEA members are continuing the fight through the May Matters campaign:
- Mobilizing voters to elect pro-public education legislators.
- Talking with family and friends about the impact of vouchers.
- Donating to the Political Action Committee for Education (PACE) to counter out-of-state voucher money.
The bottom line: Idaho educators are standing together to defend the foundation of public education — for today’s students and the generations to come.
