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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5333in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D98F20.C5A04240" alt="Graphical user interface, text
Description automatically generated"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">May 25, 2023
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Parent Advisory Council members chosen for Empowering Parents grant program<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little, Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder, and House Speaker Mike Moyle announced the members of the new Parent Advisory Council today.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The purpose of the Parent Advisory Council is to advise the State Board of Education on ways to “implement, administer, and improve” the Empowering Parents grant program.
The council was established in </span><a href="https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title33/T33CH10/SECT33-1032/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho Code 33-1032</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">.
It will include seven members – three members appointed by the Governor, two members appointed by the Senate Pro Tem, and two members appointed by the Speaker of the House. The council includes regional representation from across the state.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The
</span><a href="https://empoweringparents.idaho.gov/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Empowering Parents grants</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> help families cover expenses such as
computers and software, instructional materials, and tutoring. Public, private, and homeschool families are eligible. To date, tens of thousands of students have benefited from the grants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The Governor’s appointees are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Laura Milton of Idaho Falls<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Barbara Schriber of Sandpoint
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Jason Sevy of Marsing<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The Senate Pro Tem’s appointees are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Holly Cook of Boise<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Courtney Abenroth of Rupert<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The Speaker’s appointees are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Joni Shepherd of Riggins<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Amy Henry of Nampa<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Recognizing the parents’ role as the primary decision makers in their children’s education, we created the Empowering Parents grant program to help families take charge
of learning tools outside the classroom. I appreciate my appointees for filling an important role on the Parent Advisory Council, which will advise the State Board of Education on ways to strengthen the Empowering Parents grant program,”
<b>Governor Little</b> said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Empowering Parents has been an outstanding program that has helped both parents and students in Idaho. Holly and Courtney are both exceptional parents and Idahoans, and
I thank them for stepping up with their depth of experience and knowledge in our education system,”
<b>Pro Tem Winder</b> said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“The Parent Advisory Council is a key part of the Empowering Parents program, something that has already benefited tens of thousands Idaho families and students. This panel
will help ensure the continued success of the program and connection with families in Idaho,”
<b>Speaker Moyle</b> said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Superintendent Debbie Critchfield will serve as the nonvoting chair of the Parent Advisory Council.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Input from parents is essential and this is one more way we can tap into parents to help shape Idaho education,”
<b>Superintendent Critchfield</b> said. “I’m excited to work with the council and hear directly from parents on how we can take advantage of all that Empowering Parents offers our state.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Any parent living in Idaho who has a school-aged child (K-12) in Idaho could apply for membership on the council. Preference was given to parents who have applied for Empowering
Parent program funds or who, for the initial appointment of the panel, have indicated their intent to apply for program funds, according to Idaho law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The council’s first meeting will take place June 1. Meeting information will be available at
<a href="https://townhall.idaho.gov/PublicMeeting?MeetingID=2465">https://townhall.idaho.gov/PublicMeeting?MeetingID=2465</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Superintendent Critchfield and the council members will spend the summer traveling the state to meet with and hear from Idaho families about the Empowering Parents grant
program. Then, the council will work up a report with their recommendations for the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education will hear the report in the fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Additional details on the council are available at
</span><a href="https://empoweringparents.idaho.gov/parent-advisory-council"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">https://empoweringparents.idaho.gov/parent-advisory-council</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Governor Little also noted Idaho families already benefit from abundant school choice options, and the Empowering Parents grants fit into that. Specifically, Governor
Little pointed out that:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho is third in the nation for education freedom – measures that include spending, school choice, transparency, and regulations<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">With
</span><a href="https://www.idahoednews.org/features/spelling-it-out/spelling-it-out-types-of-schools/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">nine different school types</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">
available to Idaho families – including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, homeschooling, and others – there are hundreds of schooling options available to Idaho families<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho strengthened its role this session as one of only a handful of
</span><a href="https://gov.idaho.gov/pressrelease/idaho-further-advances-education-freedom/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">states with the fewest restrictions on allowing parents to send their child to any public school</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">
they wish<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho is a top 10 state for the number of students enrolled in public charter schools<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho led the country in standing up the Empowering Parents grant program to provide access to approved educational resources outside the
classroom. Public, private, and homeschool families are all eligible to receive grants.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“The Empowering Parents grants are effective, popular, and worthy of continued investment, and with the help of the Parent Advisory Council, we will continue to strengthen
the program,” <b>Governor Little</b> said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor’s press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail
</span></i><a href="mailto:Madison.Hardy@gov.idaho.gov"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Madison.Hardy@gov.idaho.gov</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">To unsubscribe from these announcements, send an e-mail to
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