REVISED
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS30093 / S1038
If enacted, this bill, known as the "Freedom in Education Savings Accounts (FIE)," would create savings
accounts for Idaho families on K-12 age children. The act would allow dollars to follow students so parents
could access the education services and environments that work best for their children. Eighty percent (80%)
of the "most current available statewide average general maintenance and operations fund expenditures per
full term average daily attendance as calculated by the department" or approximately $5,950.00 will be
available to eligible students, based on 2020-2021 State Department of Education financial summaries. A
student participating in the program must be a resident of Idaho who is eligible to enroll in a public school for
any grades K-12. Parents will be able to access and spend these funds on behalf of their child for approved
educational expenses through an online platform. A "Parent Review Commission" is established to provide
recommendations to the department about how to implement, administer and improve the program. The
program will come into effect on and after July 1, 2023.
FISCAL NOTE
The FIE Savings Accounts, if enacted, are expected to have an estimated impact of $19.4 million to the state
general fund or 0.6% of the total cost for Idaho's public school system. The Freedom in Education Savings
Accounts shall consist only of monies appropriated by the legislature. The appropriation each year will be
based on the total number of eligible applications received by he department. Based on the experiences of
other states that have private school choice programs, as estimated 1% of eligible students will participate in the
program during the first year, or 3,270 students.The Freedom in Education Savings Accounts program requests
$45 million from the state general fund for the first year of the program will use $40 million of these funds to
establish savings accounts for qualified students. This amount would cover approximately 6600 students. The
FIE Savings Accounts program will use up to $3 million to cover the costs of administering the program and
up to $2 million for the digital platform.
Contact:
Senator Tammy Nichols
(208) 332-1000
Senator Brian Lenney
(208) 332-1000
DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent
of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative
process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note Bill SOP/FN REVISED: 02/12/2023, 11:44 AM