Education (School Funding)

SCR 121 is a resolution requesting Idaho's Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop draft legislation modernizing the state's public school funding formula. It directs the Superintendent to create new funding legislation based on specific principles, including addressing student needs (like special education), supporting rural and virtual schools, ensuring funding stability, and aligning with Idaho's constitutional duty to fund public schools. The resolution requires the draft to include financial breakdowns for all school districts and charter schools, with a report due before the next legislative session. This bill does not change current funding but formally asks for a revised formula to replace the 1994 system.

This non-binding Idaho Joint Memorial (HJM 11) urges Congress to fully fund the federal commitment under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires 40% of the national average per-pupil cost for special education services. It highlights that federal funding currently covers only about 12% in Idaho, placing financial strain on schools and families. The memorial specifically calls for Congress to pass legislation that meets the 40% funding target through mandatory, sustained increases within a defined timeline. It also directs Idaho’s education department to annually report on how federal IDEA funding supports special education services in the state.