About US
Homeschool Idaho
Homeschool Idaho supports parent-led, parent-funded education, free from government oversight.
For many years, Idaho had two homeschool organizations.
- Idaho Coalition of Home Educators (ICHE) was founded in 1992.
- Christian Homeschoolers of Idaho State (CHOIS) was founded in 1998.
In 2018, both organizations merged into one new organization: Homeschool Idaho.
Homeschool Idaho is a 501(c)3 organization with a volunteer board of homeschool parents.
Board Members
Wes and Johanna Ireland
Kory and Melissa Nash
Paul and Linda Patchin
Jesse and Aby Rinella
Bruce and Audra Talley
Mailing Address
PO Box 45062
Boise, ID 83711
What does it mean when Homeschool Idaho says, “We are a Christian organization”?
This means that the Board of Directors are Christians, and our by-laws specify that all board members will be Christians. Our Christian faith is the basis for our belief that the freedom to homeschool is a fundamental human right. We work to inspire homeschool parents, promote private homeschooling, and protect the rights of all homeschool parents in Idaho regardless of their religious views. Our website, printed materials, and events are generally presented from a Christian perspective, and we welcome and serve those of other faiths and non-believers.
God’s Word
- We believe that the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the only Word of God, supernaturally inspired so that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts, and has been preserved by God, so that it is the divinely authoritative standard for every age and every life. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
- We hold God’s Word, in its entirety, as the final authority from which we receive direction.
- We do not accept any other testaments, documents, or revelations claiming similar divine inspiration.
The Trinity
We believe that there is one God eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-7), manifesting Himself in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 12:11)
Man
We believe that man is created in the image of God. Through the fall of man (sin) we were separated from God, subjected to the wrath of God, justly condemned in His sight, and are wholly unable to save ourselves. (John 3:36; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3)
Salvation
- We believe that salvation is wholly by grace, through faith, in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and entirely apart from any ordinance, ritual, human merit, or works.
- Salvation is the free gift of God, assuring us eternal salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18-19; John 10:28)
Marriage and Sexuality
- We believe that there are only two genders, male and female, that God Himself created only these two genders, and that they cannot be changed. (Genesis 5:2)
- We believe that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.
- We believe that sexual intimacy is a wonderful gift of God that is only to be expressed between one man and one woman (as genetically defined) within the love and bonds of marriage. (Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5; Hebrews 13:4)
Sanctity of Life
- We believe that life begins at conception.
- We believe that God created each life on purpose, for a purpose, and that we are to defend and protect all life. (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13, 16)
Education of Children
- We believe that parents have the sole, God-given authority over their children’s upbringing and education.
- We believe that God has given all parents – no matter their religious beliefs or form of spirituality – the right and the responsibility to direct the upbringing and education of their children.
- We do not believe in surrendering those fundamental parental rights to any state, federal, or other government agency for any reason. (Prov. 22:6; Prov 4:13; Deut. 6:7)