FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: BCRCC APPROVES CONSITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.
October 21, 2025 – In the 1800’s, when Horace Mann argued for compulsory public-school attendance, Horace truly believed that educating everyone would eliminate evil in the world.
Horace also believed that the state governments would be in the best position to dispense education to every child in the quest to end evil.
Horace was wrong. There have always been well educated, evil people. Education does not eliminate the tendency of human flesh toward evil.
Also, the government schools have not been the best place to educate all children.
If I homeschooled 10 children, and only 3 were able to read at grade level in the 8th and 12th grades, would that be a success?
Well, that is Idaho’s public-school results. Idaho is on a downtrend in reading and math proficiency. Idaho’s 4th grade reading proficiency is at its lowest level in a decade – only 32% of students read at grade level. Math proficiency in 8th grade is 31%. The results are equally dismal for 8th and 12th grades.
States that spend many times more money than Idaho, per student, in public education have equally poor results.
When Democrats protest school choice by talking about “accountability”, what they don’t tell you is that the public-school money gets spent with zero accountability for actual academic achievement by Idaho’s students. The only accountability in Idaho’s public schools is that the taxpayer money left the state treasury, arrived at the public school and got spent on something.
Butts in Seats
It is 2025, and even with these poor results, Idaho still has an 1800’s archaic concept in the state constitution that the legislature may require that every kid in the state attend the public schools.
That’s right, your legislature could require that every kid have their butt in a public-school seat. This very concept of state power in our constitution is repugnant to a free, American people.
Especially in 2025 when there are so many options for educating our children.
That is why the Bonner County Republican Central Committee overwhelmingly supports a constitutional amendment in favor of SCHOOL CHOICE and parental rights and opposed to mandatory butts in seats at Idaho’s public schools.
The core of the amendment to Idaho’s constitution would be to strike compulsory PUBLIC SCHOOL ATTENDANCE and insert a school choice provision that states “The right of the people to educate their children without government regulation outside of the public schools of the state shall not be infringed.”
The vote was 27-5 in favor of the following resolution:
AS PASSED – RESOLUTION 2025-4:
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Whereas, The Idaho Constitution in Section 9, Article IX grants the legislature authority to require by law that every child shall attend the public schools of the state, throughout the period between the ages of six and eighteen years, unless educated by other means;
Whereas, Such a law forcing children to attend state public schools is repugnant to the inalienable right of liberty on which our nation was founded;
Whereas, Such a requirement would violate the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the right of parents and guardians to educate their children as they choose; and
Whereas, The Idaho Republican Party Platform upholds the principles of freedom, limited government and the right of parents and guardians to educate their children as they choose; therefore, be it
Resolved, The Bonner County Republican Central Committee urges the Legislature to adopt the following Joint Resolution in the House and the Senate, to secure the appearance of the following Amendment to the Idaho State Constitution on the ballot in November 2026:
That Section 9, Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended to read as follows:
Section 9. COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL. EDUCATION BY OTHER MEANS. The legislature may require by law that every child shall attend the public schools of the state, throughout the period between the ages of six and eighteen years, unless educated by other means, as provided by law. The right of the people to educate their children without government regulation outside of the public schools of the state shall not be infringed.
How BCRCC Members Voted:
IN SUPPORT OF this Constitutional Amendment for SCHOOL CHOICE:
Anita Aurit, Rick Kirschner, Butch Horton, Anne Chamberlain, Doug Paterson, Richard Townsend, Ron Korn, Kim Peckham, Mathew MacDonald, Grace Bauer, Jane Purdy, Mike Fife, Tom Cleveland, Tanner Linton, Mike Nielsen, Sean Morgan, Cornel Rasor, Kristen Dodd, Scott Herndon, Nathan Thomas, Lana Santelli, Roger Rudd, Steve Truss, Stephen Smith, Lisa Liband, Hannah Herndon, Daniel Vaniman
OPPOSED to the constitutional amendment:
David Britton, Dimitry Borisov, Jeff Connolly, Andy Kee, Tom Bokowy