This bill allocates state funding to four Idaho higher education institutions - Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, and the University of Idaho - for fiscal year 2027. It provides new money from various funds for personnel and operating costs while simultaneously reducing operating expenditure amounts from the General Fund by a total of $752,900. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho.
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.
Idaho's S 1339 requires all public school districts and public charter schools to create annual strategic performance plans focused on improving student outcomes. These plans must set measurable goals for academic proficiency, growth, college/career readiness, and support for at-risk students, using evidence-based strategies and data. Starting in 2027-2028, schools must submit these four-year plans with annual progress reports to the state education department, which will evaluate performance using a state-developed matrix and recognize top-performing schools. The bill replaces previous continuous improvement requirements and mandates regular board reviews of progress toward these goals.
This bill allocates state funding to Idaho's Division of Career Technical Education for the Secondary and General Programs program over fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It provides $1,877,300 for the 2026-2027 period and $957,600 for the 2025-2026 period, both drawn from the Idaho Career Ready Students Program Fund. The money is designated specifically for trustee and benefit payments related to the program. The legislation includes an emergency declaration to allow Section 2 to take effect immediately upon signing, while Section 1 becomes active on July 1, 2026.
This Idaho bill (H 762) revises public charter school admission rules and staff certification requirements. It prohibits charter schools from using a student's home address for admissions and prevents school districts from mandating student attendance or staff assignments at charters. The bill creates new certification paths for charter school administrators (requiring degrees, experience, and background checks) and teachers (with flexible education or career-technical qualifications). These changes directly affect Idaho's public charter schools, their leadership, and teaching staff by standardizing qualifications and contractual relationships with educational service providers.
Idaho's S 1227 establishes rules for using generative artificial intelligence (like AI that creates text or images) in public K-12 schools. It requires the state education department to create a framework prioritizing student privacy, safety, and human oversight, while mandating school districts to adopt local policies aligned with this framework. The bill also directs the development of AI literacy standards for students, teacher training programs, and guidelines for purchasing AI tools that comply with privacy laws. These requirements take effect July 1, 2026.
Idaho's S 1332 is a budget bill that transfers specific funds from specialized state accounts into the General Fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It directs the transfer of $45 million from the Strategic Initiatives Program Fund, $3 million from the Opportunity Scholarship Program Account, $33.7 million from the Permanent Building Fund, $15 million from the Water Pollution Control Fund, and $10 million from the In-Demand Careers Fund (for 2026) and another $10 million (for 2027) to the General Fund. These transfers are intended to provide immediate funding flexibility for state operations during the 2025-2026 budget period. The bill declares an emergency to allow most provisions to take effect immediately upon passage, with one transfer scheduled for late 2026. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.
Idaho's S 1331 reduces state funding for education programs in fiscal year 2026 by $22.3 million from the Public School Income Fund and transfers money to the General Fund. It directly affects public schools (teachers and student support), Idaho's universities (including Boise State, Idaho State, and the University of Idaho), community colleges, and education programs like medical residencies and career technical education. Key mechanisms include cutting specific budget line items (e.g., $5.4 million for Boise State University, $1.8 million for student administrators), reducing authorized staff positions, and reallocating funds. The bill declares an emergency to expedite these fiscal adjustments.
This bill requires public schools in Idaho to provide daily outdoor recess for students in kindergarten through grade 5, with each session lasting at least 20 minutes when weather and scheduling allow. The legislation also encourages schools to offer unstructured activity breaks for middle school students in grades 6 through 8. If outdoor recess is not possible due to weather, schools must provide indoor alternatives such as in a gymnasium. The bill prohibits withholding recess as punishment unless the disciplinary issue occurred during the recess period itself.
HJR 9 proposes a constitutional amendment in Idaho to remove language allowing the state legislature to require children to attend public schools between ages six and eighteen. It would add a new provision stating that "the right of the people to educate their children without government regulation outside of public schools shall not be infringed." If approved by voters, this change would directly affect all Idaho parents and students by altering the constitutional basis for education requirements. The amendment focuses on redefining parental education rights rather than creating new laws or regulations.
