Idaho Bills
32 bills · 2018 Regular Session
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding mastery-based education.
This legislation has two purposes: 1) Allow more public school districts and public charter schools to participate in Idaho's mastery education initiative by removing the existing statutory cap on participation. The cap was put into place as the mastery initiative began in order to create an incubator cohort of schools. As Idaho has made progress, more schools wish to participate. The cap is presently 20, and we have approximately 30 more schools which have expressed a desire to participate in the network. 2) Adjust the statute to support Idaho's long-term transition to mastery education by encouraging incremental experimentation in schools, especially in grade levels or subject matter. Additionally, it establishes a mastery-based education advisory commission to study and track progress around the state and recommend policy changes that will help the state navigate potential implementation issues.
44 – 25
Amends existing law to exempt high school students from apprenticeship registration requirements under certain circumstances.
35 – 0
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Educational Support Program.
This legislation amends § 33-1002(1)(q) and 33-1002(2)(r), Idaho Code, to increase the minimum distribution for the public schools' educational support program for counseling support, as provided for in § 33-1212A, Idaho Code. The Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee's 2019 Public School Support – Teachers' budget motion includes a $2,000,000, or 28.5 percent, increase in this appropriation, and this legislation allows for a commensurate increase to the minimum distribution to school districts. The minimum would increase from $14,000 to $18,000 or a pro rata distribution for school districts and charter schools with 100 or more students in grades 8 through 12, whichever is greater. It also increases the distribution from $7,000 to $9,000 for school districts and charters schools with fewer than 100 students. Without this legislation, the increased appropriation in this line item will benefit only large school districts.
35 – 0
Adds to existing law to revise provisions regarding computer science courses.
This bill seeks to make computer science courses accessible to all Idaho high school students. It would require Idaho school districts to offer at least one or more in-school, elective computer science courses in each of their high schools. The schools would have until 2020 to implement the courses through on-line, remote, or in class instruction. Recent policy changes at the federal and state level will make it easier for schools to meet the objectives of this bill. Online IDLA courses are available in most Idaho high schools.
35 – 0
Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding suicide prevention in schools.
To provide a minimum level of suicide awareness and prevention training to all public school personnel. Thislegislationwillallowschooldistrictstoadoptasuicidepreventionpolicyandchooseanevidence-based gatekeeper program to implement in their district.
35 – 0
Amends existing law to require public institutions of higher education to notify students of the option to register as an organ donor.
The purpose of this legislation is to provide young adults another way to register their wishes to be organ, eye and tissue donors. There has been an increase in the number of 16 to 20-year-olds that are not getting a driver's license, the number one place they expect to be able to register as a donor. This legislation would instruct all institutions of higher education to twice a year send out an email with a link to a registration page to give students that may not have a driver's license an easy way to register their wishes to help others by being an organ, eye and tissue donor.
37 – 31
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding funding for career technical schools.
The proposed legislation amends Section 33-1002G, Idaho Code, to eliminate the support unit reference in how career technical schools are funded. Eliminating this reference will provide the Division of Career Technical Education with the flexibility to propose future amendments to IDAPA 55.01.03, which outlines the specific process for funding these schools. In addition, the proposed legislation clarifies the specific funding eligibility requirements for a career technical school. Under the existing language, career technical schools are funded using a formula that uses the average daily attendance of students attending a particular career technical school. This approach does not take into account the separate and distinct costs of career technicalprograms,norcanitbeaccuratelycalculatedwithinthestate'scurrentdatareportingsystem. Under the proposed legislation, the duplicate language in Section 33-1002G, Idaho Code, regarding the secondary support unit multiplier would be removed. This change will result in no changes to the current funding calculations. The duplicate language in Administrative Code would remain in place until such time as amendments could be brought forward to the legislature for consideration. Additional amendments clarify the enrollment requirements for a career technical school and ensures schools enroll students from more than one attendance area. Pursuant to Section 33-1002G, Idaho Code, added cost funding is appropriated for the purpose of supporting the added cost of eligible career technical schools. Career technical schools are intended to deliver high-end technical education programs that go beyond the scope of traditional career technical education programs.
32 – 0