On July 10, 2025, Idaho Governor John Smith signed into law a controversial education bill that will require homeschooled students in the state to take standardized tests in order to measure their academic progress. The bill, known as the Education Accountability Act, aims to ensure that homeschooled students are meeting the same educational standards as their peers in traditional public schools.Under the new law, homeschooled students will be required to take standardized tests in core subjects such as math, reading, and science at the end of each academic year. The results of these tests will be used to assess the students' academic proficiency and identify any areas where they may need additional support.Proponents of the Education Accountability Act argue that standardized testing will help to ensure that homeschooled students are receiving a quality education and are prepared for success in college and beyond. They also believe that the law will provide valuable data on the academic performance of homeschooled students, which has been lacking in the past.However, opponents of the new law have raised concerns about the government's involvement in homeschooling and the potential infringement on parents' rights to educate their children as they see fit. Some homeschooling advocates worry that standardized testing could impose unnecessary stress on students and undermine the flexibility and individualized approach that homeschooling allows.Despite the controversy surrounding the Education Accountability Act, Governor Smith expressed his confidence in the new law, stating that it strikes a balance between accountability and parental rights. He believes that standardized testing will help to ensure that all students in Idaho are receiving a high-quality education and are prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.The Education Accountability Act is set to go into effect at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, giving homeschooling families in Idaho time to prepare for the new testing requirements. Whether the law will ultimately improve educational outcomes for homeschooled students remains to be seen, but it is clear that the debate over homeschooling regulation in Idaho is far from over.