Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding funding of public schools and to provide for outcomes-based funding.

This legislation modernizes Idaho’s K-12 school funding formula by adding an outcomes-based funding component. This is an important shift in school funding, moving from paying exclusively for inputs to including a component that pays for student growth and achievement. It provides a funding framework for school districts and public charter schools to receive funding aligned with statewide student achievement goals, specifically growth and proficiency targets for math (grades 5 through 8) and attaining college and career readiness credentials.

Amends existing law to require State Board of Education appointments to be made with the advice of the Senate and revises provisions regarding school modernization facilities fund distributions.

This proposal clarifies the implementation and phasing of School Modernization Facilities Fund Distributions.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding school facilities funding.

This legislation is a trailer bill to H 521. It would delay the issuance of bonds and annualized or lump sum distribution. It would also delay eligibility for fund distributions and the use of the School Modernization Facilities Fund.

Amends existing law to provide that the boards of trustees of each school district shall have the discretion whether to establish school libraries and whether to decommission any school library that is not necessary.

This legislation amends Idaho Code, Section 33-512, to revise a provision regarding power of School Board Trustees within a school district, allowing the Board to determine whether to equip and maintain a library or libraries in any school or schools. Additionally, the Board may authorize any school under its authority to decommission any library that it determines is not necessary.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding student education data.

This legislation seeks to update Title 33 Chapter 133, Idaho Code regarding the use, limitations, and penalties related to student data. The proposed legislation provides technical corrections and broadens the scope of student data to encompass education data more generally, thereby allowing staff data to receive the same protections as student data.

Adds to existing law to establish a tax credit and a grant program for certain private school tuition and education expenses and to establish a grant fund in the state treasury.

The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit legislation provides for a refundable tax credit up to $5,000 for a parent or guardian that incurs qualified education expenses for an eligible student. "Qualified expenses" include kindergarten through twelfth grade tuition and fees related to attending a nonpublic school, tutoring, taking assessments used to determine college admission, costs for textbooks, curriculum, and transportation costs for the purposes of receiving academic instruction. It also means a micro school or learning pod that provides academic instruction from a certified Idaho teacher. TheIdahoParentalChoiceGrantportionofthelegislationalsocallsforagrantofupto$5,000thatwouldallow lower income Idahoans to participate in the refundable tax credit. The grant program would be administered by the Idaho State Tax Commission. Both, the refundable tax credit and grant limits increase up to $7,500 for special needs students that require ancillary personnel to assist in academic instruction. The Idaho State Tax Commission has the ability to audit records, receipts and documents similar to all tax filings to ensure accountability. The Idaho State Tax Commission may refer suspected cases of fraud to the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution.

Adds to existing law to provide public school teachers with $500 per year to spend on classroom and education expenses on behalf of their students.

Public school teachers do not receive dedicated monies for classroom supplies and typically purchase these out of their own pocket. In 2007, Superintendent Luna provided teachers $350 each year for classroom supplies which colloquially became known as “Luna Bucks”. This program ended in 2010 with the recession and teachers have not received classroom supply money since. This legislation provides public and charter teachers with prepaid $500 debit cards designated for the procurement of qualified classroom supplies. Eligible teachers are required to maintain receipts and transaction records for a duration of two years from the date of purchase. The Idaho Department of Education reserves the right to audit any transaction conducted by teachers within a two-year timeframe upon request. The eligible teacher or respective school is obliged to furnish records promptly upon request by the Idaho Department of Education. In the event of an unauthorized purchase, the teacher assumes responsibility for reimbursing the Idaho Department of Education. Any remaining funds at the end of the fiscal year may be carried over and utilized in subsequent years, for a maximum period of three years from the date of card issuance.

Amends existing law to provide that the Governor's appointment of the executive officer of the state board is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, to revise provisions regarding School District Facilities Fund distributions and School Modernization Facilities Fund distributions, and to revise provisions regarding public charter school financial support and charter school authorizers.

This trailer bill to HB 521 makes the following changes: 1) It ensures that the executive officer of the state board is confirmed by the Senate; 2) It delays the implementation of the minimum days requirement for schools to 2025 to ensure legislative oversight while providing the state board flexibility to phase in hours or days requirements; 3) It ensures any misused dollars by a local school district are recaptured to the schools facilities fund and distributed to rural schools; 4) It amends to one-time distributions from the school district facilities fund; 5) It restores public charter school facility funds to what they were prior to unanticipated reductions from funding formulas impacted by the passage of HB 292 in 2023; and 6) It resolves a conflict within Section 33-5209A, Idaho Code.

Adds to existing law to establish a tax credit and a grant program for certain private school tuition and education expenses and to establish a grant fund in the state treasury.

The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit legislation provides for a refundable tax credit up to $5,000 for a parent or guardian that incurs qualified education expenses for an eligible student. "Qualified expenses" include kindergarten through twelfth grade tuition and fees related to attending a nonpublic school, tutoring, taking assessments used to determine college admission, costs for textbooks, curriculum, and transportation costs for the purposes of receiving academic instruction. It also means a micro school or learning pod that provides academic instruction from a certified Idaho teacher. The Idaho Parental Choice Grant portion of the legislation also calls for a grant of up to $5,000 that would allow lower income Idahoans to participate in the refundable tax credit. The grant program would be administered by the Idaho State Tax Commission. Both, the refundable tax credit and grant limits increase up to $7,500 for special needs students that require ancillary personnel to assist in academic instruction. The Idaho State Tax Commission has the ability to audit records, receipts and documents similar to all tax filings to ensure accountability. The Idaho State Tax Commission may refer suspected cases of fraud to the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution.

Amends and adds to existing law to provide for a strategic plan for school districts and public charter schools and to provide for a certain training for school district board of trustee members and public charter school board of directors members.

The legislation reduces reporting requirements by eliminating the Continuous Improvement Plan requirements. Replacing the Continuous Improvement Plan with a district’s locally-developed strategic plan provides increased flexibility in how a district or charter chooses to identify and measure student outcomes that are important to their local communities. To ensure strategic plan development, specific to student outcomes and accountability, the bill outlines the frequency and type of school board training required for successful oversight and accountability. The primary goal of the legislation is to build school board capacity and drive continued student achievement in Idaho schools. Boards properly trained to review and discuss student achievement data provide the accountability required to ensure all students learn at a high level.