Inside the web of special interest groups pushing for expanded Tennessee school vouchers
Lee’s school choice legislation has sailed through four committees in recent weeks with opposition from only a handful of Republicans.
Stay updated with breaking news from Class Inc. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Lee’s school choice legislation has sailed through four committees in recent weeks with opposition from only a handful of Republicans.
Only $1 million in purchases have gone through, as parents complain of delays and technical glitches on the platform called Odyssey.
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.
The Idaho State Board of Education is still working to unravel a scope of issues with the Empowering Parents grants, intended to help low-income and middle-class families offset educational costs. On Wednesday, the board discussed one significant problem. Some taxpayer-funded grants — designed to help parents pay for laptops, learning materials and other out-of-pocket education costs — instead covered items such as smartwatches and cleaning supplies.