Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the Hope and Opportunity Scholarship Act.

This proposed legislation known as the “Hope and Opportunity Scholarships Program,” would create Hope and Opportunity Scholarships (HOS) accounts for Idaho families with student(s) in Kindergarten through 12th grade. The act would allow education funding dollars to follow students so parents could access the education services and environments that work best for their children. Families can use funds for private tutoring; curriculum, tuition and fees at a private school; among other approved expenses. Funds will be allocated based on the total number of eligible applications received by the State Department of Education. Scholarships are worth eighty percent (80%) of the “most current available statewide average general maintenance and operations fund expenditures per full term average daily attendance as calculated by the department”. This amount is approximately $5,950 (State Department of Education 2019-2020 Financial Summaries 1 – General M & O fund expenditures per full term A.D.A. is $7,444).