Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to provide that funds appropriated to public schools shall be used for the purposes identified in statute or in an appropriation.

This bill states that funding appropriated and distributed by the state to school districts and public charter schools must be used for the intended purposes.

Amends existing law to provide for reimbursement for parents or legal guardians for costs related to self-directed learner students.

The self-directed student statute allows motivated students who have good grades, know their math facts, demonstrate good citizenship, and have completed a student learning plan defined in section 33 1001 (30), Idaho Code to engage in enhancement or alternative activities. The proposed change to the self-directed learner statute would provide families with financial support for those alternative learning activities. The current statute does not expressly allow districts to reimburse families for expenses associate with those activities. By making this change, teachers and parents can work together to develop a plan to support students' education outside of the traditional classroom and provide funds to support these plans.

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding an Early Literacy Readiness Program.

This legislation allows school districts or public charter schools to use existing literacy intervention funds for an Early Literacy Readiness Program for four- and five-year-olds. This Program must be aligned with the district’s or charter school’s literacy intervention program, be based in the science of reading, and include a program of parental engagement.

Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to remove language allowing for the Legislature to require school attendance and to add language regarding the right of the people to educate their children without government regulation outside of public schools.

The interests and role of the people of Idaho in the care, custody, and control of their children are both implicit in the concept of ordered liberty and deeply rooted in our nation's history and tradition. They are also among the unalienable rights retained by the people under the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The interests of the people include the high duty and right to nurture and direct their children's education. By statutes already in place, the legislature has long recognized and exercised its duty to protect the peoples' fundamental rights to nurture and direct their children's destiny, upbringing, and education. After decades of success in enacting statutory protections for the people of Idaho, this resolution will elevate the long-standing statutory provisions and protections to the Idaho Constitution by amending Section 9 of Article IX. At a time of strength in Idaho's education environment, this constitutional amendment strikes the outdated compulsory public school attendance provision and places language in the constitution that will ensure to future generations of Idahoans their ability to educate their children outside of the public schools of the state without undo government regulations and burdens.

Amends existing law to require public school districts to adopt certain safety protocols.

This is a school safety housekeeping bill. The existing language is confusing because it tries to do three things in a single paragraph. This proposed legislation outlines those provisions individually and makes clear that two of the requirements – emergency operations plans and trainings – are exempt from public disclosure.

Repeals and adds to existing law to require school-sponsored Bible reading.

This legislation requires that public school teachers read passages from the Bible to their classroom every day withoutinstructionorcomment, consistentwiththelongstandingpracticeofschool-sponsoredBiblereadingin both Idaho and the United States. Schools would provide reasonable accommodations to teachers and students with conscience objections.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding virtual education programs in public school districts and virtual public charter schools.

This bill would require virtual public charter schools to be authorized by the state charter school commission instead of individual school districts. This ensures a neutral, statewide authority oversees schools that serve students statewide, while still allowing flexibility in how they teach. It restores funding that was inadvertently cut by a 2024 law and clarifies expectations for virtual public charter schools contracting with outside educational service providers. This also provides guidelines for school districts that have virtual education programs.

Adds to existing law to allow public schools to display only certain flags and banners on school property and to prohibit schools from displaying certain flags and banners.

The classroom is a place to foster education and to do so, students should be comfortable and free from partisan politics. Personal political beliefs disrupt the classroom and make students uncomfortable, feel unwelcome and open the door to bullying if they are in the minority mindset. Third party flags are an open political statement and do not belong in the classroom.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding virtual education programs in public school districts and virtual public charter schools.

This bill would require virtual public charter schools to be authorized by the state charter school commission instead of individual school districts. This ensures a neutral, statewide authority oversees schools that serve students statewide, while still allowing flexibility in how they teach. It restores funding that was inadvertently cut by a 2024 law and clarifies expectations for virtual public charter schools contracting with outside educational services providers. This also provides guidelines for school districts that have virtual education programs.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Idaho Launch Grant Program and the In-Demand Careers Fund.

This legislation makes several changes that provide improved accountability and focus for Idaho’s Launch program. These changes include: 1.) Focusing Launch monies on education and training programs of two years or less. 2.) Generally limiting money for 4-year baccalaureate programs to career fields in health care, engineering, and information technology. 3.) Putting oversight of Launch program policy, including the creation of the matrix of in-demand careers, under a nine-member advisory board consisting of consisting of three appointees each from the Governor, the Senate President Pro Tempore, and the Speaker of the House. 4.) If extra money is left over each year in the In-Demand Careers Fund, allows the money to go first to in-demand postbaccalaureate health care careers, the tuition of which is not already funded by the state, then up to $10 million for enhanced grant funding, no more than $5 million of which can be used by adult learners, then for opportunity scholarships for eligible students pursuing in-demand careers. 5.) Requiring most participating education and training institutions to adhere to all aspects, and all participating institutions to adhere to most aspects, of chapter 21, Title 33, Idaho Code, relating to dignity and nondiscrimation. Also requires all such participating institutions to adhere to Section 67-5909C, Idaho Code, relating to diversity statements.