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 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 updates Idaho's career ladder system for school staff, including superintendents, building administrators, and instructional employees, by adjusting how compensation increases are calculated based on experience and performance. It establishes specific pathways for salary progression tied to years of certification, professional endorsements, and performance evaluations, while also creating provisions for career technical education instructors with industry experience to receive equivalent placement on the ladder. The legislation requires school districts to allocate funds based on staff positions on the career ladder, with additional funding for staff who earn advanced degrees or meet specific performance criteria.
This bill requires Idaho public schools to provide daily outdoor recess for kindergarten through fifth-grade students, with each recess lasting at least 20 minutes when weather and scheduling allow. If outdoor conditions are not suitable, schools must offer indoor recess alternatives, and the law prohibits withholding recess from entire classes as punishment. The bill also encourages middle schools, serving grades six through eight, to provide unstructured activity breaks for their students. These requirements apply to all school districts, specially chartered districts, and public charter schools in 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 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 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.
This bill amends Idaho law to revise the Parental Choice Tax Credit, which provides financial assistance to parents for private school and related educational expenses. It establishes eligibility for Idaho residents with children aged 5 to 18, or children with disabilities up to age 21, to claim a refundable tax credit of up to $5,000 per eligible student for qualified expenses including tuition, tutoring, assessments, and transportation. The bill creates a priority application system that favors lower-income families and allows eligible parents to request an advance payment of the credit before filing their tax return. It also repeals the previous advance payment fund and sets specific application deadlines and documentation requirements for claiming the credit.
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.
This bill updates Idaho's career ladder system for public school staff, affecting instructional and pupil service employees by changing how they advance through compensation levels. It establishes clearer rules for moving up the career ladder based on years of experience, professional endorsements, and performance criteria, while also creating new pathways for career technical education teachers with industry experience. The legislation requires school districts to adjust staff allocations according to these revised placement rules and includes provisions for recognizing prior teaching experience from private or parochial schools.
