This bill allocates $900,000 in state funding to the State Board of Education and the University of Idaho Board of Regents to support health education programs for fiscal year 2027. The money is designated for specific medical residency and fellowship programs, including positions for Eastern Idaho, Family Medicine, and University of Utah medical education. Additionally, the bill authorizes two and a half new full-time equivalent positions and directs that 15 new graduate medical education residencies and fellowships be funded through the Rural Health Transformation Program. If those specific funds become available, unused general fund money originally set aside for graduate programs will instead be used to create new undergraduate medical education seats. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and requires a compliance report to be submitted to the state legislature by December 1, 2026.
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 reduces the state funding for Idaho's Digital Learning Academy by $13.5 million for fiscal year 2027 and adjusts related financial transfers between state funds. The legislation requires the academy to limit course offerings and deny new enrollments if necessary to maintain a positive cash balance, while prohibiting withdrawals from the Public Education Stabilization Fund for this program. Additionally, the bill mandates that the academy verify compliance with state nondiscrimination standards for diversity, equity, and inclusion courses and submit a compliance report by December 2026. The law also requires detailed reporting on course costs, enrollment data, and budget information to the Legislative Services Office by August 2026 to improve transparency in how state funds are used.
This bill adjusts funding for Idaho's Division of Student Support for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, allocating $11.9 million from specific funds while reducing overall appropriations by nearly $10 million. The legislation lowers per-student funding for fully virtual schools, cuts $7.5 million in transportation reimbursements, and requires schools offering online classes to report enrollment and attendance data. It also modifies how English learner funds are distributed, establishes new requirements for technology education programs, and mandates a report on special education spending.
This Idaho bill (H 516) prohibits public school staff from providing classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to students in kindergarten through grade 12. It requires schools to adopt policies banning such instruction unless it is age-appropriate and developmentally suitable per state standards. The law directly affects Idaho public schools and their curriculum decisions for all K-12 students. Key mechanisms include mandating school policies that prevent classroom lessons on these topics, while allowing age-appropriate discussions that align with educational standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
This bill updates Idaho's Transportation Support Program to clarify which costs school districts and transportation providers can claim for reimbursement when moving students to and from school. It defines allowable expenses such as vehicle maintenance, driver salaries, and contracted transportation services, while excluding costs for optional vehicle features not essential for safety or disability transport. The state will typically cover 50% of reimbursable costs, with higher reimbursement rates for training, fees, and bus maintenance, and includes a cap based on statewide average costs per mile or per student rider. The law also extends reimbursement eligibility to home-based public virtual schools for internet, equipment, and face-to-face visit costs, and establishes specific criteria for hardship bus runs that may qualify for higher reimbursement limits.
This bill updates Idaho's rules for counting student enrollment numbers, which directly affects school districts, public charter schools, and the state Board of Education. It establishes specific guidelines for calculating full-time enrollment, including limits on how many students can be counted based on their attendance patterns, such as restricting students with 11 or more consecutive unexcused absences from being counted on official enrollment dates. The law also sets clear rules for counting kindergarten students at half enrollment and summer or night school students at one-quarter enrollment, while requiring schools to conduct official enrollment counts on specific dates throughout the school year. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, and aim to standardize how student enrollment data is collected and reported across the state.
This bill updates how Idaho public school districts calculate salary allocations for instructional and pupil service staff based on their career ladder progression. It establishes specific rules for placing new teachers on the career ladder, including provisions for those with prior teaching experience in private or parochial schools and career technical education instructors with industry experience. The law also sets performance criteria that staff must meet to advance to higher compensation levels, with allocations remaining at previous levels if performance requirements are not satisfied. These changes affect how school districts determine funding for employee compensation starting July 1, 2026.
This bill is a joint memorial from the Idaho Legislature expressing support for federal efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. It states that education is a state responsibility under the Tenth Amendment and argues that the Department has created burdensome regulations without adequate funding. The document urges the U.S. Congress to cooperate with eliminating the Department and directs officials to send this message to federal leaders and Idaho's congressional delegation.
This bill appropriates $517,800 to Idaho's State Department of Education for the Student Services Program during fiscal year 2027. The funds come from three sources: the School Bus Camera Fund, the American Rescue Plan Fund, and the Federal Grant Fund, with specific allocations for personnel, operating expenses, and trustee and benefit payments. The legislation declares an emergency to ensure the money takes effect immediately on July 1, 2026, allowing the department to use these resources without delay.
