Idahoans for Choice in Education

Expanding Educational Choice for Idaho Families

AN OPEN LETTER TO FELLOW IDAHOANS

Just a few short years ago a small group of concerned educators and parents established Idahoans for Excellence in Education (IEE) in hopes that somehow someway, they could make a positive difference in Idaho Public Education.  At that time the name IEE seemed appropriate for our goals.  However, now we believe we need a name that is more descriptive of what we are all about--Idahoans for Choice in Education.  (ICE)  While achieving excellence is certainly a worth goal, it is not descriptive of how we achieve it.  Hence the new specific focus on CHOICE--because we believe that educational choice is the pathway for excellence, and that widespread excellence will only be achieved when all of Idaho families have true choice in where and how their children are educated!

While we have changed our name, we have not changed our objectives or our fundamental activities.  Why?  Because there are some legislators who would like to see us and education choice go away;  taking with it the home school opportunities thousands of families currently enjoy and others desire.  We think that would be a terrible step backwards.  ICE believes that parents deserve choice, not limitations; to accomplish this there needs to be the kind of effort we are making to keep that step backward from happening.  Choice has brought increased opportunity to many children.  Let's not lose it!  We clearly need more, not less.  Utah recently passed a school voucher bill, but the teacher's union forced a referendum thereby putting the fate of thousands of Utah students on the ballot for partisan political opportunism.  Unfortunately for those thousands of students, the Teacher's Union was successful.  To retain and grow educational opportunity here in Idaho, we must resist such opposition, and continue to monitor all legislative education committee meetings, support those legislators who support Idaho Families, and work for the ultimate goal of achieving educational choice for all.  Our Political Action Committee (IEE) has experienced some success and of that, we are proud.  With the help of many like you who care, we have supported good people and good ideas to accomplish tangible results,  even though we realize that we still have a long way to go.  Highlights of IEE success include:

• In the last General Election we actively supported our new State Superintendent, significantly helping him win the election.

• We were the only organization that stepped to the "plate" and helped defeat Proposition 1, the flawed proposal of the teacher's union.

• With our encouragement and support, a division within the Department of Education has been established by Superintendent Luna specifically to advance choice and innovation in our schools.

• With our help, Idaho now has over 10,000 students in 30 charter schools--giving those parents a broader and more innovative education option for their children.

While there are those fortunate thousands of students in those 30 schools, there are still over 7,000 on waiting lists.  These numbers leave little doubt as to whether or not Idaho families want to be able to choose their child's school.  Many more do!  We are convinced that these accomplishments provide ample evidence that the Committee is getting some "legs," even though there is obviously much work to be done.

The Utah legislation and the approval of a student scholarship program in Arizona are intended to support additional educational choices for families in those states.  Here in Idaho, we also need to continue to explore the many possibilities for creating lasting choice.  We need to continue to work with our State Superintendent and our friends in the Legislature to provide what the vast majority of Idahoans want, the right to determine where their children attend school.  To do this we need your help!  A contribution of any amount and/or your membership in this effort to expand education choice for all of Idaho families will be greatly appreciated and wisely invested.  Please take time right now to complete the enclosed form and return it with your contribution for Education Choice!

You may contact us through this website by clicking on the "contact us" link.

Sincerely,

The Board of Directors for "Idahoans For Choice in Education"

Darrel Deide                      Holland Johnson                Gayle O'Donahue                         

Julie Yamamoto                 Leslie Mauldin                    Becky Stallcop                    

Ann Rydalch

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ICE-PAC

P.O. Box 933

Boise, ID 83701