Idaho Bills

Appropriates $10,884,300 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind for fiscal year 2018.

Appropriates $90,616,400 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Administrators for fiscal year 2018; and amends existing law to increase the salary-based apportionment for administrators.

Appropriates $298,637,800 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Children's Programs for fiscal year 2018; directs the use of funds for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy; directs the use of funds for the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program; directs the use of funds for remedial coursework; directs the use of funds for limited English proficiency programs; directs the use of funds for gifted and talented students; directs the use of funds for purchasing digital content and curriculum; requires advanced opportunities reporting; directs the State Controller to transfer funds to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs; directs the State Controller to transfer funds to the Idaho State Police; provides reappropriation for certain dedicated funds; and defines the term “distributed.”

Appropriates $48,486,600 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Facilities for fiscal year 2018; provides moneys for the Bond Levy Equalization Fund; specifies the amount of revenue to be distributed to the General Fund; and allows for the General Fund to be included in the year-end reconciliation, if necessary.

This is the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriation for the Facilities Division of the Public Schools Educational Support Program in the amount of $48,486,600. This includes $17,217,400 from the General Fund and $31,269,200 from dedicated funds. This appropriation funds the Bond Levy Equalization Program, the Charter School Facilities Program, and the School Facilities Maintenance Match Program and results in a General Fund decrease of 9.2% and a 1.9% decrease in all funds. The estimated cost of the Bond Levy Equalization Program is $20,500,000 and is funded from a mix of $7,305,800 from the General Fund (transferred from cigarette tax revenue), $12,050,000 of Idaho Lottery proceeds directed by statute to the Bond Levy Equalization Program, and $1,144,200 from the fund balance in the Bond Levy Equalization Fund. The estimated cost for charter school facilities is $6,084,100, all from the General Fund. The estimated cost of the state facilities maintenance match is $21,902,500 and is funded from a combination of $3,827,500 from the General Fund and $18,075,000 from the School District Building Account, which receives moneys directly from the Idaho Lottery.

Appropriates $13,975,800 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Central Services for fiscal year 2018; directs the use for literacy programs, intervention services, math initiative programs and limited English proficiency programs; directs the use of funds for student assessments; directs the use for wireless technology infrastructure; directs the use for professional development; provides legislative intent for content and curriculum; provides guidance on year-end reconciliation; provides legislative intent for technology content and curriculum; and defines terms.

ThisistheFiscalYear2018appropriationfortheCentralServicesDivisionofthePublicSchoolsEducational Support Program in the amount of $13,975,800, which is a decrease of 4.7% over the current appropriation. This division includes those moneys in the public schools support budget that are expended at the state level for the benefit of all school districts. There are eight line items in this appropriation. Line item 1 provides $2,142,000 one-time from the General Fund for statewide Wi-Fi services. This is for the final year of the five year contract. Line item 3 removes $950,000 from contracting for digital content and curriculum and transfers this amount to the Children's Division to be distributed to school districts and charter schools. Line item 5 provides $300,000 for Mastery-Based Education transferred in from the Children's Division to be used to contract for professional development to be made available statewide. Line item 6 removes $750,000 previously transferred from State Department of Education to the Office of the State Board of Education to conduct school improvement evaluations. Line item 7 provides $800,000 for an increase in English language curriculum. Line item 8 adds $61,300 for literary coach positions. Line item 9 reduces $300,000 from the General Fund to contract for services to train administrators on teacher evaluations. Line item 10 adds $110,000 from the General Fund from the Children's Division to the Central Services Division for continued maintenance and development of online portals pursuant to Section 33-1024, Idaho Code.

Appropriates $924,988,500 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Teachers for fiscal year 2018; directs the use of moneys for professional development; and defines the term “distributed.”

This is the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriation for the Teachers Division of the Public Schools Educational Support Program, in the amount of $924,988,500. Within this amount, there is an increase of $63,005,500 of nondiscretionary adjustments. These adjustments include $61,928,200 for instructors and pupil services staff for the third year of the career ladder compensation system. Also included is $756,400 for an increase in leadership awards and $320,900 for increases in math and science requirements. Additional funding was added in two line items. Line item 1 for an increase of $4,250,000 to be distributed to school districts and charter schools for professional development. Line item 2 for $2,000,000 for academic and college or career advisors and student mentors to be implemented according to sections 33-1002(r) and 33-1212A, Idaho Code. Totals for this appropriation bill include $909,988,500 from the General Fund and $15,000,000 from federal funds for a total of $924,988,500. This is an 8.2% increase from the General Fund and 8.1% from all funds.

Appropriates $653,649,000 for the Public Schools Educational Support Program/Division of Operations for fiscal year 2018; amends existing law to increase the salary-based apportionment for classified staff; provides an estimate for discretionary funds per support unit; provides for expenditures for information technology staff; provides for classroom technology and instructional management systems; defines the term “distributed”; and allows for transfers among other divisions.

This is the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriation for the Operations Division of the Public Schools Educational Support Program in the amount of $653,649,000. This budget includes $4,322,600 for a 3% base salary increase for classified staff and $9,808,200 for nondiscretionary adjustments due to enrollment growth. The adjustments include $7,143,500 to maintain discretionary funding at $25,696. Also, $2,537,100 is needed for salaries and benefits, $491,800 for projected transportation cost increases, and a decrease of $364,200 for unused unemployment insurance. There is also an increase of $10,324,800 of endowment funds and a decrease in the same amount from the General Fund. There are four line items included in this appropriation. Line item 1 provides $5,000,000 from the General Fund for classroom technology and infrastructure. Line item 2 increases discretionary funding by $2,978,900 from the General Fund and $3,000,000 one-time from dedicated funds. Line item 4 adds $5,000,000 from the General Fund to be distributed for information technology (IT) staffing. Line item 5 provides an increase of $9,967,800 from the General Fund to discretionary funds for the employer portion of health insurance for state-funded school district employees due to premium rate increases. The totals for this appropriation are $597,599,400 from the General Fund and $56,049,600 from dedicated funds, for a total of $653,649,000. This is an increase of 4.7% from the General Fund and 6.5% from all funds. Discretionary funds would be set at $26,748 per support unit, which is a 4.1% increase. Pursuant to Section 5 of this act, and to address rising health insurance costs, discretionary funds would be further divided into two distributions. The first distribution is $15,506 per support unit to be used at the discretion of the school district or charter school. The second distribution is $11,242 per support unit to be used to offset the school district or charter school employer cost of health, vision,