Education

This joint memorial from the Idaho Legislature asks the U.S. federal government to help states pay for the costs of educating students regardless of their immigration status. It requests that Congress create a new federal funding program to supplement existing education grants and conduct a study on the financial impact of educating these students. The bill does not change Idaho's laws or funding directly but serves as a formal request to the federal government for financial assistance. It is based on the legal requirement that states must provide public education to all students within their borders.

Idaho's S 1336 requires all public high school students to demonstrate core virtues (like patriotism and justice) and master key principles of American self-government, including natural rights, the rule of law, and the separation of powers, before graduation. It mandates two credits each in American history and government for grades 9-12, with a full-year Western civilization course required for 8th graders by 2030. The bill specifies curricula must cover foundational documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution), the American founding era, and the influence of Western traditions, while including instruction on how totalitarian ideologies like communism conflict with U.S. principles. These changes directly affect Idaho public school students and educators developing course materials. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

This bill allows Idaho school districts and public charter schools that meet specific performance and financial standards to gain more control over how they spend state education funds. To qualify, districts must rank in the top 20% for test scores or exceed state averages by significant margins, maintain strong graduation rates, and demonstrate three years of clean financial audits. Participating schools gain flexibility to allocate money for salaries, programs, and other expenses as they see fit, while being exempt from many state reporting requirements. The law includes safeguards that allow the state to revoke this flexibility if schools fail to meet academic benchmarks for two consecutive years or have serious financial audit issues. A report on the program's impact will be submitted to the legislature in 2029.

This bill amends Idaho law to clarify how school districts must use state funds designated for school facilities, requiring money to be spent on construction, renovation, maintenance, and security rather than athletic facilities. It establishes a nine-member Model School Facility Council to develop a standardized plan for school building design and construction that districts must follow when using these funds. The council will be appointed by state officials and must submit its plan to the legislature by July 2027, while districts must annually report on how they spend the allocated money.

This bill is a concurrent resolution that formally recognizes community schools as an effective method for improving student outcomes and strengthening communities in Idaho. It encourages ongoing cooperation between schools, families, and local organizations to grow and maintain these programs across the state. The resolution highlights that community schools operate as neighborhood hubs offering integrated health services and expanded learning opportunities through four key areas: student support, extended learning time, family involvement, and collaborative leadership. While it does not change laws or allocate funding, it serves as an official legislative endorsement of the current community school model already in use at 65 schools throughout Idaho.