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.
State review finds up to $180,000 in improper Empowering Parents purchases idahoednews.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from idahoednews.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
State review finds up to $180,000 in improper Empowering Parents purchases idahoednews.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from idahoednews.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.