Marcos is a Legislative Director for ExcelinEd in Action.
Building on years of steady reform, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and the state legislature took decisive action in 2025 to support students, parents and teachers through a new wave of student-centered policies.
This year’s legislative session resulted in the passage of three new education laws focused on strengthening students’ reading skills, reducing classroom distractions, reducing facilities costs for charter schools and giving families more flexibility to choose where their children learn. These new laws reflect Idaho’s commitment to ensuring every student has access to the tools, environments and opportunities needed for success.
Here’s a deeper dive into each of these new education policies.
With the passage of Sen. Van Burtenshaw’s SB 1069, Idaho is doubling down on its early literacy strategy.
The new law ensures that all K‑3 teachers and administrators receive professional development in the science of reading—grounding instruction in proven strategies that help young students develop strong reading skills early on. These investments reflect Idaho’s belief that reading proficiency is essential for long-term academic success.
Eyes will be on Idaho leaders as they consider budget appropriations to implement these important improvements.
Gov. Brad Little signed Rep. Douglas Pickett’s HB 331, which allows the state to continue to reduce facility costs for its more than 70 charter schools, so they can maximize their investment in classroom instruction. The state has used its “moral obligation” to guarantee charter school facility bonds and substantially reduce the interest rates charged. The Public Charter Schools Facilities Program is so successful that it reached its statutory cap. HB 331 now raises the limit so that Idaho can continue to serve as a national model.
The bill’s passage reflects years of collaborative work among state leaders and education stakeholders, including ExcelinEd in Action and our sister organization ExcelinEd. In presentations to both the House and Senate Education Committees, ExcelinEd shared results from a study, conducted in partnership with Bluum, showing that, at no cost to Idaho’s taxpayer, the state has helped charter schools save $113 million, which is the equivalent of an additional 10 teachers hired for each charter school.
Rep. Wendy Horman’s HB 93 marks a major milestone for Idaho families: the creation of the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit, the state’s first private education choice program.
The program provides families with a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 per student and $7,500 for students with disabilities for qualified educational expenses, including tuition, textbooks, tutoring and more. It is designed to help parents customize their child’s learning experience and access the educational settings that best fit their unique needs.
By placing decision-making power in the hands of families, Idaho is expanding opportunity and increasing access to high-quality education options across the state.
You can hear Rep. Horman speak about why this legislation is imperative for Idaho families on ExcelinEd in Action’s Statehouse Spotlights podcast here.
To protect learning time and encourage student engagement, Sen. Treg Bernt’s SB 1032 requires local school boards and charter schools to adopt distraction-free school policies that address student use of phones and other personal devices during school hours.
Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all mandate, the law takes a flexible approach—empowering local districts to craft policies that align with their school communities while reducing digital distractions.
This legislation builds on growing momentum nationwide to create phone-free schools that lead to more focused, socially interactive and engaged learning.
With the enactment of these new education policies, Idaho continues its trajectory as a state committed to bold, practical solutions that support students, empower families and strengthen schools.
Idaho’s 2025 reforms send a clear message: The state is putting students first and building an education system that works for every learner.
