This bill appropriates state funds for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy for the 2027 fiscal year, directly affecting public school districts and charter schools in Idaho. The legislation sets a maximum tuition rate of $40 per student enrollment and mandates that the academy provide remedial coursework for students who are not proficient in state standards. Additionally, the bill requires the academy to offer advanced learning opportunities, such as dual credit courses, in accordance with state education rules. The law becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and was signed into law by the Governor.
This bill amends Idaho state law to revise the structure, duties, and funding rules for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, a public school-choice program that offers online courses to students. It establishes the Academy as a distinct governmental entity rather than a state department, outlines the responsibilities of its Board of Directors, and sets specific requirements for course offerings, staffing, and accreditation. Key provisions include limiting administrative staff to 30% of the budget, exempting teachers from certain employment classifications, defining course fees with a $40 cap for graduation-required classes, and allowing the Academy to contract with service providers for 24/7 online course delivery. The legislation also clarifies definitions for terms like "host district" and "custom section," while declaring an emergency to ensure immediate implementation of these changes.
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 directs $5 million from the Idaho High Needs Student Fund to the Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Student Support for fiscal year 2027 to help fund student support services. It also transfers $1 million from the Idaho Career Ready Students Program Fund and $4 million from the Driver Training Account into the Idaho High Needs Student Fund to provide the necessary money for this appropriation. The legislation clarifies the funding source for these expenditures and sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration to ensure immediate implementation.
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 allocates $356,300 in funding to Idaho's Division of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind for the 2027 fiscal year. The money comes from two sources: $335,900 transferred from the General Fund to the Public School Income Fund, and $20,400 from the School for the Deaf and the Blind Endowment Fund. The legislation clarifies the original funding sources for these expenditures and declares an emergency to make the funding effective starting July 1, 2026.
This Idaho bill allocates and adjusts funding for the Workforce Development Council and the STEM Action Center for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It increases the Workforce Development Council's budget by $1,150,000 from the In-Demand Careers Fund while adding six full-time equivalent positions, but simultaneously reduces its General Fund allocation for operating expenses. The STEM Action Center receives a budget increase from the STEM Education Fund while having its total funding reduced by $76,400 from the General Fund and losing seven full-time equivalent positions. The bill also declares an emergency to allow the General Fund reduction to take effect immediately upon passage, with other provisions beginning on July 1, 2026.
This bill appropriates approximately $3.1 billion in state and federal funds to Idaho's Public Schools Educational Support Program for fiscal year 2027, covering teacher salaries, student support services, facilities, and special education programs. It directs specific uses for the money, including professional development for educators, additional compensation for instructional staff, technology infrastructure purchases, and targeted funding for English language learners and students with disabilities. The legislation also establishes reporting requirements for how districts allocate funds and clarifies the original funding sources for these expenditures.
Topics
✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $3.1 billion to fund public schools, including teacher salaries, student services, and facilities, directly strengthening state education budget.95% confidence
✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates $3.1 billion for public schools, covering teacher salaries, student services, facilities, and special education programs.95% confidence
✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill provides funding for English language learners and students with disabilities, which includes immigrant students accessing educational services.75% confidence
✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly allocates funding for technology infrastructure purchases in public schools, directly advancing technology access and digital infrastructure in education.85% confidence
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Rep's Stance
✓ Voted Yes
✓ Supports Education
H 721 updates Idaho's building code rules for public school construction plans. It allows school districts to choose between local governments or the state division of occupational and professional licenses for plan reviews, but sets strict certification requirements for reviewers (e.g., International Code Council certification for structural reviews). The bill mandates a 30-day initial review timeline and limits fees for school plan reviews to those set by the state division. It directly affects public school districts, contractors, and local governments handling school construction projects.
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.
