Idaho Gov. Brad Little has requested a “full financial audit” of the troubled Empowering Parents education microgrant program, amid signs that taxpayers might have gotten the bill for thousands of improper or dubious purchases.
The governor is offering the Division of Financial Management to contract with an independent third party to conduct a full financial audit of the program and status of eligible vs. ineligible purchases.
According to Idaho Ed News, Little wants the State Board to move quickly and submit an “action plan” by Friday — and explore whether the state can “recoup” taxpayer dollars that covered improper purchases. The State Board is expected to take up Little’s request at its meeting tomorrow (Wed).
Little’s audit request casts a growing shadow over one of the governor’s top education priorities — a $50 million initiative designed to help families cover out-of-pocket education costs, like computers or learning materials. The microgrants max out at $1,000 per child or $3,000 per household, and are geared toward low-income and middle-class households.
But the State Board launched a review of Empowering Parents in late April, after some program purchases raised red flags with board staff. The board has said some of the grants covered a host of improper purchases — like TV’s, smart watches, clothing and household cleaning supplies.
The review is ongoing.
Using $50 million of federal coronavirus aid, Idaho went live with Empowering Parents last fall. The state attempted to build safeguards into the system. Parents were required to make purchases through an online marketplace, and purchase items only from state-approved vendors. Parents never received money directly, and instead used a digital wallet to cover their costs.
