Education

This Idaho bill (H 516) prohibits public school staff from providing classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to students in kindergarten through grade 12. It requires schools to adopt policies banning such instruction unless it is age-appropriate and developmentally suitable per state standards. The law directly affects Idaho public schools and their curriculum decisions for all K-12 students. Key mechanisms include mandating school policies that prevent classroom lessons on these topics, while allowing age-appropriate discussions that align with educational standards. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

This bill establishes the Idaho Education Whistleblower Protection Act to safeguard employees and applicants who report misconduct related to student safety. It defines protected activities as reporting sexual misconduct or safety violations, cooperating with investigations, or refusing to conceal such issues. The law prohibits educational entities from retaliating against whistleblowers through actions like termination, demotion, or harassment, and creates a legal presumption that adverse employment actions within six weeks of reporting constitute retaliation. Whistleblowers who face retaliation can file civil lawsuits seeking monetary damages and attorney fees, with protections applying to activities on or after July 1, 2026.

This bill establishes the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act to enhance background checks and reporting requirements for school employees. It requires educational institutions to request disclosure statements from job applicants covering the past ten years, specifically asking about pending investigations, resignations during investigations, and disciplinary actions. The law also mandates that schools cannot replace required law enforcement reports about child abuse or neglect with their own internal reviews. Additionally, the bill provides immunity from civil liability for those who make good faith disclosures and requires that any employment changes during misconduct investigations be reported to the state's professional standards commission.

This bill establishes limits on the number of non-U.S. resident student athletes who can receive scholarships at public colleges and universities in Idaho. It requires that no more than 10% of all sports roster positions and no more than 50% of any single athletic team be held by international student athletes receiving financial aid. The legislation also mandates that scholarships awarded to Idaho residents be prioritized for student athletes and requires the state board of education to create rules for monitoring compliance and reporting data to the legislature annually. Existing scholarship agreements made before July 1, 2026, are protected from these new restrictions for up to four academic years.

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.