Empowering Parents Grants in Idaho

About Empowering Parents Grants – Idaho

The Empowering Parents Grant program provides eligible families with funds for educational services and devices to address learning loss, with a focus on purchases through approved vendors in the online marketplace. (1)

Empowering Parents grants cover a range of educational expenses, including computers, internet access, tutoring, learning materials, therapies, and more, facilitated through an online marketplace.

All purchases must be made through approved vendors in the Empowering Parents online marketplace, ensuring compliance and streamlined processing.

Here’s a closer look at Empowering Parents grants in Idaho.

Benefits of Empowering Parents Grants

The program was initiated in 2022, with $50 million allocated towards the grants. (2) According to surveys, over 80% of parents believe that the Empowering Parents program will help students improve their learning prowess.

The program has also helped ease the burden of sharing educational technology at home by 78% while helping 65% of children participate in extracurricular activities and improve grades on assignments and tests.

Additionally, over 55% of students reportedly overcame learning disabilities and achieved better scores with standard tests.

Around 52% of students reported feeling less stressed and anxious about schoolwork. Concerning private schools, over 41% of parents insisted that private school tuition be made eligible under the Empowering Parents grant.

On the other hand, many beneficiaries are concerned that thousands of eligible parents and students are unaware of the Empowering Parents grants in Idaho.

There is a need to promote and advertise the grant program more expansively to get the funds to increase the number of eligible parents in the state. Besides this, parents have wished to see more numbers of vendors so the long waits for approval can be solved.

Eligibility for Empowering Parents Grants Fund

Eligibility includes Idaho K-12 students, whether attending public or private schools or being homeschooled, with priority based on Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). (3) The Idaho State Tax Commission and the State Board of Education will determine families’ eligibility for this grant based on income levels.

The previous year’s AGI determines eligibility according to income from personal tax returns, not business tax returns filing. The Idaho Tax Commissioner’s office will check and verify this information before approving the grant for any applicant parent.

Eligible families can access $1,000 per student, up to a maximum of $3,000 per family, as a one-time grant. This fund can buy computer systems, internet connectivity, teaching software, educational materials, tutoring, and other educational resources.

Here’s a list of approved expenses that you can use Empowering Parents grant funds for:

Desktops, laptops, and tablet PCs
Textbooks
Headphones
Curriculum books
Printers and printer ink
Timers
School supplies
Sensory devices (handheld or other)
STEM project and curriculum kits
K-12 reading books
Art supplies
Dictionaries
Board games
Learning flashcards
Globes, atlas, maps, etc.
Educational workbooks
Periodic tables
Microscopes and slides
Prompt cue cards
Measuring devices (tapes, math cubes, legos, etc.)
Laptop stands
Puzzles
Tutoring expenses

The grants’ initial priority is given to households with an AGI of $60,000 or less, expanding to those earning up to $75,000, and then to all other eligible applicants if funds remain. Once this group is covered, the government will expand the AGI limit to include those with a $75,000 annual AGI.

If funds remain after this, the government will expand eligibility to include families with annual AGI of over $75,000 annually.

Applying for Empowering Parents Grants in Idaho

The easiest way for an eligible parent to apply for the Empowering Parents grant is to fill out the online application form at the official government website, www.empoweringparents.idaho.gov.

Awards are prioritized based on AGI, with the application process requiring verification through the Idaho Tax Commission. Awarded funds are accessible through an Empowering Parents account managed by Odyssey.

You will also get instructions for logging in to your Empowering Parents online account to access and use the funds. Odyssey manages the Empowering Parents accounts.

As mentioned, the awards will be announced in three phases, starting with families with an annual AGI of $60,000 or less.

Eligible parents in this phase can expect to receive the fund amount in their account within 30 days of applying. Once you qualify for the award, Odyssey will email you at the address linked to your Empowering Parents account.

In contrast, if your application for enrolling in the Empowering Parents program is rejected, you have a 5-day period to appeal the decision.

You can email the appeal request to Heather Zeitlin at [email protected]. On the appeal, please include your full name, phone number, email address, and applicant number.

Conclusion

The state government of Idaho announced the Empowering Parents grants in 2022 after approval from the state legislature. The funds under this grant program are meant to help ease learning for students struggling with education after the global pandemic.

The state government offers funds amount to eligible parents to buy various learning and educational resources that can help improve their child’s performance at school.

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