Eleanor Lobue and her spouse allocate approximately $40,000 annually to educate their five children who are of school age, managing a diverse network of public schools, private schools, home education, and virtual learning options to suit each child’s individual requirements.

Now, the Lobue family, residing in Hayden, is one ofthree Idaho familiesjoining The Partnership for Educational Choice in a legal dispute to maintain the state’s newly enacted parental choice tax credit program — a law that may offer them substantial financial support beginning in January.

The legal action regarding the tax credit wassubmitted on Wednesday, September 17, submitted directly to the Idaho Supreme Court by the Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and the Idaho Education Association, along with other groups, who claim thatIdaho’s Family Choice Tax Creditestablishes a distinct educational system that does not adhere to the accountability and transparency standards applied to public schools. These organizations claimed that Idaho’s Parental Choice Tax Credit was unconstitutional.

Each child’s requirements vary greatly, and every child has a unique personality. Our family feels that the decision for each individual child to address those needs is crucial,” Lobue stated. “It’s not simply a single approach that works for every child.

The Lobue family relocated to Idaho from California’s Bay Area in July 2020, attracted by the state’s educational freedom, even though they knew very little about their new location.

At the time, I knew very little about Idaho besides the fact that there was considerable freedom in how you could homeschool your children according to your own judgment,” Lobue said. “It was a significant act of faith for us to relocate because we didn’t know anyone in Idaho and had never visited the state before moving there.

The family has seven children, with ages spanning from 1 to 17 years old. Among the five children who are of school age, they are enrolled in five distinct learning environments: one is fully enrolled in a public school, splitting time between a public charter school and an alternative high school; two are attending private schools; one is exclusively homeschooled; and another is involved in an online education program.

The range comes from the children’s different learning requirements. Several of Lobue’s children have learning challenges and neurodivergence, according to Lobue, which necessitate extra assistance and treatments.

“We were attempting to determine the most suitable option for them that would also include the treatments they required,” she stated.

The family’s experience in education has faced numerous obstacles. Lobue recounted intense struggles with public school officials regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEP’s) and the right level of assistance for her children.

“As a parent, it becomes extremely exhausting fighting for your child’s needs and navigating the entire evaluation process along with the IEP procedure, while trying to determine the appropriate level of support your children require,” she said.

Their eldest child, who is 17 and doing well in public school, is what Lobue refers to as a “real success story” — but this came after many years of trying different options like private schooling, homeschooling, online classes, and extensive discussions about the IEP.

The largest cost for the family is the private school fees for two children who have learning difficulties, she mentioned.

It’s a significant sacrifice for our family to send them there,” she stated. “However, we are prepared to make it because we have witnessed the advantages, particularly for our older daughter, who is entering her fourth year at that institution.

Idaho’s upcoming parental choice tax credit initiative, scheduled to begin in January, will distribute $50 million for private educational expenses. Qualified families may get as much as $5,000 per student for private school fees, homeschooling supplies, or tutoring outside the public school framework.

When Lobue first learned about the tax credit program being approved by the Idaho Legislature, her response was straightforward: “exciting.”

A legal action has been initiated to question the constitutionality of the tax credit initiative, aiming to prevent its execution. The Lobue’s were initially reluctant to participate in the legal battle.

“When your family is as big as ours, and we value privacy, you might not always want to be in the spotlight,” Lobue said.

However, in the end, she stated, the family felt they had to speak out.

We are just one of countless families who believe this is the correct approach, that support is necessary, and that children are entitled to that support, as well as parents having the option of where they want their children to attend school,” she stated. “And if it’s feasible for them to get help with this, it should be done.

The Lobue family believes their wide range of educational experiences—having explored nearly all available schooling options in Idaho—has prepared them to illustrate the importance of parental choice.

We had experienced all the various forms of education available, so we would be a great family to showcase the different choices parents can make,” Lobue said, “but also emphasize why it’s crucial for parents to have access to all these options, as each child might benefit from a different approach at different stages of their life.

Lobue responded to critics who are against using public money to fund non-public educational choices, stating that what is suitable differs depending on the child.

If parents believe that the public school is the right environment for their child, they will enroll them in a public school,” she stated. “The reality is that parents should have the initial and main responsibility in determining if a placement is suitable.

She stated, “You’re giving parents the ability to say, this isn’t a suitable environment for my child, whether it’s due to learning challenges or emotional concerns, or any other reason.”

The family’s main objective goes beyond just their own children.

I believe public school education has its role, just as private school education does, and so does homeschooling,” Lobue stated. “I think they are all significant paths for educating children.

She mentioned that offering suitable educational environments at an early stage leads to lasting advantages for society.

Our main objective in raising children is to foster joyful, balanced individuals within the community,” she stated. “If we start this process at an early age and provide children with what they require when they need it, we will end up with more content, well-adjusted adults in our society.

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