Education

This bill creates the Idaho Child Care Program to help low-income families in Idaho afford child care for their children under 13, or older children with disabilities, while parents work, attend school, or participate in training. The program requires parents to meet specific work or education hour thresholds, such as at least 30 hours per week for one parent in a two-parent household, and sets income limits based on federal poverty guidelines and state median income estimates. It establishes rules for provider qualifications, program oversight, and eligibility redetermination every 12 months, while also defining intentional program violations and creating a waiting list system. The bill includes provisions for using federal and state funds to improve child care quality and capacity building, with an emergency declaration to expedite implementation.

This bill allocates $4,998,400 to Idaho's Office of the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2027, funding administrative operations through a combination of general fund and federal grant money. It simultaneously reduces the office's general fund appropriation by $510,500 and cuts four full-time equivalent positions from the office's authorized staffing level. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and was signed into law by the Governor.

This bill allocates $1,368,700 in state funding to Idaho's four community colleges for fiscal year 2027, with specific amounts designated for personnel and operating expenses at each institution. The legislation also reduces the total appropriation by $245,500 from the previous year's funding levels across the same colleges. The funds are distributed through the State Board of Education's General Fund and become effective on 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.

Idaho's S 1317 creates a framework for voluntary regional service centers (RSCs) that school districts and public charter schools can form to share specialized staff and administrative services. The bill allows multiple local education agencies to pool resources for high-cost, hard-to-staff roles like psychologists and special education support under IDEA, while maintaining local control over curriculum and enrollment. RSCs would receive state funding for core administrative services (e.g., HR, finance), operate under locally governed boards, and offer additional fee-based services through agreements. This aims to reduce duplication, improve compliance with federal special education requirements, and lower costs for participating schools.