Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to establish the School Safety and Security Program in the Office of the State Board of Education.

This legislation provides for the transfer of the mission, oversight and operations of the Idaho Office of School Safety and Security from the Division of Building Safety to the Office of the Idaho State Board of Education. This transfer is necessary as a result of the reorganization of the Division of Building Safety pursuant to Executive Order 2020-10. This Executive Order did not move the Office of School Safety and Security into the newly created Division of Occupational and Professional Licences.

Adds to existing law to provide that students may receive credit for extended learning opportunities or by demonstrating prior knowledge of a content area.

Many Idaho school districts allow students to earn credit for learning or work done outside of traditional classrooms. This bill codifies the practice and provides certainty for students and parents by clarifying that such credit can be earned in any local district subject to school board discretion. Local school boards will determine how they will implement the policy and create their own process for allowing students to apply for credit. Examples of credit-worthy activities could include organized sports, music lessons, internships, trade apprenticeships or military service. Starting in the 2022-23 school year, high school students will also have an avenue to get credit for prior knowledge. Local school boards will have the discretion to decide how to implement their own policies and processes to allow students to “test out” or otherwise demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge to get credit for a course.

Amends existing law to provide that advanced opportunities funds may be used for college entrance examinations, preliminary college entrance examinations, and certain other costs.

The purpose of this bill is to clarify that when students utilize Advanced Opportunities (AO) funding when taking tests, the exam and costs associated with the exam to be covered by AO include proctor and administrative fees. This bill also clarifies that the cost of a college admissions test is an allowable AO expense.

Amends and adds to existing law to clarify who has the authority to close schools or limit school activities or programs for the purpose of stopping the spread of infectious disease.

ThislegislationreducesthenumberofgovernmententitieswiththeauthoritytocloseK-12schools,orotherwise limit any aspect of school programs or activities to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious disease. Duly elected school boards representing the parents in a community, including charter school boards of directors are authorized to close schools. Department of Health and Welfare, district boards of health, and cities shall not have this authority.

Adds to existing law to provide for the creation of innovation classrooms in which an alternative curriculum will be taught.

This bill creates a framework for parents to request an alternative curriculum within a regular public school if parents of at least 24 students request such accommodation. The bill lays out the framework, time frames, and issuesthatneedtobenegotiatedaswellasaccountabilityandfunding. Thehopeisthattheinnovativeclassroom will give parents a stronger voice advocating for the needs of their children while encouraging a working relationship between parents, teachers, students, and administration. Parental involvement and engagement is a critical factor in student success. As parents get engaged and take ownership over their own child’s education, outcomes will improve.

Amends existing law to provide for in-person instruction when possible during an emergency.

ThislegislationwouldhelpensurethatIdaho’sconstitutionalmandatetoprovideathorougheducationismetby providing students with access to in-person instruction where safety requirements can be developed at the local level. Research shows that most students, particularly those with special needs and elementary students, learn best when in person, in a structured setting. School districts should attempt, to the greatest extent practical, to provide in-person instruction to any student whose needs would best be met in that manner.

Amends existing law to provide for a commission on continuous improvement plans and student achievement measures and to revise provisions regarding staff evaluations, college and career advising, and literacy intervention.

This legislation eliminates several non-valued added activities associated with K-12 including reports and unnecessary bureaucracy. It drives effectiveness in the aspects of schools that Idaho’s citizens are primarily interested in, and that is: “are more kids learning to read, are they getting better at math, are more industry certificates being earned in CTE programs, and so on.” Additionally, this legislation sets up infrastructure so that the legislature, along with the Governor’s office, the state education agencies, and stakeholder groups, can consider ways to incentivize, encourage, and recognize high performing teachers and schools in an effort to encourage more schools to use practices that are highly successful here in Idaho.