Empowering Parents — Idaho
Launched in Idaho to empower families' role in their children's education, the Empowering Parents Grant provides financial assistance for education-related expenses. Initially backed by federal COVID-19 relief funds, this ongoing program now receives $30 million annually from the state. Open to families with K-12 students residing in Idaho, the grant prioritizes households earning $60,000 or less per year, though it expands to $75,000 after an initial funding round.
Eligible families receive up to $1,000 per child, maxing out at $3,000 per family, which can be spent over a 24-month period. Funds are accessed through an online portal where approved vendors offer education-related goods and services like computers, internet access, learning materials, tutoring, and educational therapies. Despite some initial hiccups with ineligible purchases and marketplace vendor concerns, a recent audit found mostly positive outcomes for the program. Families interested in applying can do so through a rolling application process until funds are exhausted.
This initiative strives to give parents direct control over their children's educational resources, hoping to bridge gaps and support learning recovery, particularly for those impacted by the pandemic. If you'd like to learn more about eligibility, application specifics, or approved vendors, feel free to ask! I'm here to help you navigate the program and access its potential benefits for your family.
How to use your funds to subscribe to Elephant Learning?
- Go to your Odyssey account and enter the Marketplace.
- Search for Elephant Learning.
- Pick your preferred subscription package.
- Click Add to Cart and assign the item to your student.
- Upon checkout, enter in the delivery notes your email address and the name of the student. We need the information in creating your account.
- Submit the order.