Education

in committee · Idaho · House Mar 3, 2026

H 809: CHILD PROTECTION – Amends and adds to existing law to provide for a school of origin and school of origin hearing.

This bill updates Idaho's child protection laws by adding a new provision for "school of origin hearings" and revising definitions and terminology throughout the Child Protective Act. The key mechanism allows children in foster care to request a hearing to determine whether they should remain in their original school or be transferred to a new one, ensuring their educational stability during placement. The legislation also clarifies terms like "abused," "abandoned," and "aggravated circumstances" to provide clearer guidance for courts and child welfare agencies. These changes directly affect families involved in child protective services cases, schools, and state agencies responsible for child welfare decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill promotes educational stability for foster children by ensuring they can remain in their school of origin, protecting their right to education during placement changes.85% confidence

Track

signed · Idaho · House Apr 2, 2026

H 940: EDUCATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Idaho Digital Learning Academy.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens Idaho Digital Learning Academy by establishing it as a distinct entity with clear governance, course requirements, and staffing rules, enhancing educational access and program structure.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens Idaho Digital Learning Academy by establishing it as distinct entity with clear structure, duties, and funding rules, promoting digital education access.75% confidence

signed · Idaho · Senate Apr 2, 2026

S 1439: EDUCATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Model School Facility Council.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ensures designated state funds are used for essential school facilities rather than athletic projects, promoting fiscal responsibility and proper allocation of public education resources.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens school infrastructure by mandating funds be used for construction, renovation, maintenance, and security rather than athletic facilities, improving educational facilities.85% confidence

signed · Idaho · House Mar 26, 2026

H 876: APPROPRIATIONS – STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION – Relates to the maintenance appropriation to the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2027.

This bill allocates state funding for Idaho's education system for fiscal year 2027, directing money to the State Board of Education, public universities, community colleges, and related agencies. It establishes specific dollar amounts for personnel, operating expenses, and capital outlays for institutions including Boise State, Idaho State, Lewis-Clark State, University of Idaho, and four community colleges. The legislation also sets limits on the number of authorized full-time equivalent positions for certain programs and provides flexibility to transfer funds between expense categories for higher education and health education programs. Additionally, it adjusts student tuition and fees for the upcoming fiscal year and designates funds for standards review, data sharing, and accountability reporting.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funding for education system including universities and community colleges, directly advancing budget appropriations for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funding for Idaho's education system including public universities, community colleges, and State Board of Education for FY 202795% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

in committee · Idaho · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 1372: EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Education Whistleblower Protection Act.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects educators who report misconduct, safeguarding teachers and improving school safety through whistleblower protections90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens worker protections by establishing whistleblower safeguards for education employees, preventing retaliation for reporting safety violations and misconduct.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

Track

in committee · Idaho · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 1371: EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens background checks and reporting for school employees, enhancing safety and accountability in educational settings through improved law enforcement data sharing.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances student safety and educator accountability through background checks and disclosure requirements, protecting students and supporting safe educational environments90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Teachers

Track

signed · Idaho · House Apr 2, 2026

H 920: APPROPRIATIONS – HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS – Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for Health Education Programs for fiscal year 2027.

This bill allocates $900,000 in state funding to the State Board of Education and the University of Idaho Board of Regents to support health education programs for fiscal year 2027. The money is designated for specific medical residency and fellowship programs, including positions for Eastern Idaho, Family Medicine, and University of Utah medical education. Additionally, the bill authorizes two and a half new full-time equivalent positions and directs that 15 new graduate medical education residencies and fellowships be funded through the Rural Health Transformation Program. If those specific funds become available, unused general fund money originally set aside for graduate programs will instead be used to create new undergraduate medical education seats. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and requires a compliance report to be submitted to the state legislature by December 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $900,000 in state funding for health education programs, directly supporting public health services and educational initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $900,000 in state funding for health education programs, medical residencies, and graduate medical education positions, directly supporting educational initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $900,000 for health education programs and creates new medical residency positions, directly increasing healthcare funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education Primary Care

passed · Idaho · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SR 118: KINSHIP CAREGIVERS – States findings of the Senate and endorses the development of a state plan to support kinship caregivers.

This Senate resolution endorses the creation of a state plan to support kinship caregivers, who are grandparents or other relatives raising children when the parents cannot. The bill directs the Idaho Caregiver Alliance to develop a comprehensive blueprint that coordinates resources across public, private, and community sectors to better assist these families. Key provisions include improving caregiver training, expanding access to respite care, integrating support into education and healthcare systems, and establishing data collection methods to track outcomes. The resolution aims to strengthen family stability by ensuring kinship caregivers receive the necessary resources to care for children effectively.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill integrates support into education for kinship caregivers, enhancing educational access for children in alternative care situations75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly directs development of a state plan to support kinship caregivers, including expanding access to respite care and integrating support into healthcare, which strengthens healthcare access for vulnerable families.85% confidence

Tags Children

Track

signed · Idaho · House Mar 30, 2026

H 922: APPROPRIATIONS – COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES – Relates to the appropriation to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for College and Universities and the Office of the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2027.

This bill allocates state funding to four Idaho higher education institutions - Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, and the University of Idaho - for fiscal year 2027. It provides new money from various funds for personnel and operating costs while simultaneously reducing operating expenditure amounts from the General Fund by a total of $752,900. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to the State Board of Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funding to four Idaho higher education institutions for fiscal year 2027, providing new money for personnel and operating costs, which strengthens public education funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funding to four Idaho higher education institutions for fiscal year 2027, providing new money for personnel and operating costs despite some General Fund reductions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget Higher Education

signed · Idaho · House Apr 2, 2026

H 949: APPROPRIATIONS – WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND STEM ACTION CENTER – Relates to the appropriation to the Workforce Development Council and the STEM Action Center for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases funding for Workforce Development Council and STEM Action Center, strengthening state programs and workforce development initiatives.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases funding for STEM Action Center and Workforce Development Council, expanding educational programs and workforce development initiatives.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases funding for Workforce Development Council and STEM Action Center, which supports workforce development and employment programs.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Workforce Development