Parents Grant Program News Today

The external audit questions $40,614 worth of grant money; it's roughly .1% of the overall $39,354,724 in grant money given.

The external audit questions $40,614 worth of grant money; it's roughly .1% of the overall $39,354,724 in grant money given.

Rep. Julie Yamamoto, R- Caldwell, assured attendees that this would be an ongoing issue in the 2024 legislature session.

State officials are downplaying the result of an internal Idaho State Board of Education review, which pinpointed up to $180,000 in ineligible, taxpayer-funded purchases through the Empowering Parents education microgrant program. The purchases represent less than 1% of the money parceled out through the $50 million program, which uses federal coronavirus aid to cover out-of-pocket education expenses such as laptops, learning materials and tutoring and counseling.

An Idaho State Board of Education review found up to $180,000 in improper Empowering Parents purchases through the grant program.

Although the Idaho Legislature approved funding for Empowering Parents Grant Program in February, less than $2 million has been distributed.

State lawmakers created the program during the 2022 legislative session to help families catch up on COVID learning loss

Luckily, it’s easier than ever to follow the legislative session from afar. Here are a few tips to stay up to speed and make your voice heard. 

The Idaho Senate passed a bill providing grants for families with school-aged children using federal COVID relief dollars.

PAYETTE COUNTY — As week six of the 2022 Idaho Legislative Session gets underway, the list of bills introduced this session grew to 309 as of Feb. 14 while several