Idaho governor signs law mandating open enrollment for all public schools

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a new school choice bill into law today that proponents say will end zoning discrimination. 

SB 1125 requires all school districts to have an open enrollment policy, increases transparency and streamlines the process for families to access a variety of public school options.  

The bill received strong bipartisan support in both chambers, passing the state Senate with unanimous approval and receiving 63 out of 70 votes in the House.  

State Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, and Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, published a joint op-ed to explain how open enrollment would help Idaho students.  

“School choice is about freeing families to make education decisions that work, instead of forcing them into a one-size-fits-all system,” they wrote. “The power of education freedom lies in allowing each family to access the school that works for them instead of forcing them into a system based on their ZIP code.  

“We want our schools to fit our kids, not our kids fitting the schools.”  

With the increasing focus on K-12 education, many states are creating or expanding open enrollment policies to remedy the fact that only 42% of families had options within the public system in 2019. 

School choice advocates praised Idaho for its new policy.  

“Access to a great school should not be determined by a family’s income or where they live,” said Craig Hulse, executive director of yes. every kid. “The state has taken critical steps toward creating a truly student-centered education experiences by opening up public schools so a student is no longer limited by ZIP code and can access more educational options.”  

The Idaho Freedom Foundation also gave the measure a positive rating.  

The law will take effect on July 1.