Idaho Bills

States findings of the Legislature, declares that the community school strategy is a proven approach to student success and stronger communities, and encourages continued collaboration among schools, families, and community partners to expand and sustain community school efforts in Idaho.

RS33670 / SCR126 This concurrent resolution recognizes the Community School Strategy as a locally driven approach to strengthening student success and supporting families across Idaho. Community schools function as neighborhood hubs that bring together educators, families, nonprofits, and local organizations to address barriers to learning and improve student outcomes. Through integrated student supports, expanded learning opportunities, family engagement, and collaborative leadership, the community school model helps ensure that students are healthy, supported, and prepared to succeed in school and in life. The resolution acknowledges the work already underway across Idaho, where more than sixty schools in multiple districts are implementing community school strategies through partnerships with educators, community organizations, and families. By highlighting this collaborative framework, the Legislature encourages continued local partnerships and community-based solutions that reflect Idaho’s values, strengthen families, and contribute to the long-term prosperity of the state.

Adds to existing law to require public schools to offer daily recess to students in kindergarten through grade 5 and to encourage public schools to offer unstructured activity breaks for students in grades 6 through 8.

RS33724 / H0915 This legislation adds a new section of code to require public schools to provide daily recess for students in kindergarten through grade five and encourage schools to provide unstructured activity breaks for students in grades six through eight. This aligns with extensive evidence that recess is not a luxury but a necessary component of healthy child development including boosting learning, behavior, health and happiness. This legislation also provides that recess cannot be withheld from an entire class as a form of discipline.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding career technical education certificates.

This legislation seeks to improve the recruitment and retention of industry professionals within Career Technical Education (CTE) programs by setting a reasonable threshold of experience required when a professional is seeking a certificate to teach a specific CTE context area. By eliminating the minimum hours of professional experience required, this legislation allows the State Board of Career Technical Education to establish minimum requirements for CTE programs by specific content area, rather than a blanket requirement for all programs. This will further allow the board to engage with industry stakeholders to adjust the requirements to be responsive to industry demand and needs. Finally, because minimum professional experience currently exists in both statute and administrative rules, eliminating those requirements in statue will prevent further confusion as to how the requirements are meant to work together. Moving forward, the board will promulgate rules for requirements by content area, which will then be reviewed and approve by the Legislature.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the Idaho Digital Learning Academy.

RS33808 / H0940 This legislation establishes updated policy governing the operation of the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) and clarifies its role as a supplemental provider of online courses for Idaho public school students. The bill reaffirms IDLA’s core mission of filling instructional gaps by offering courses for remediation, courses that may not otherwise be available in small or rural school districts, courses required for graduation, and overload courses. The legislation eliminates certain program offerings that fall outside this core mission, including custom section arrangements that allow for duplicate funding, participation by virtual schools, driver’s education courses, and programs serving kindergarten through fifth grade students. The bill further directs that IDLA services be focused on students in grades six through twelve. Additionally, the bill establishes minimum fees for courses required for graduation and for elective courses, and sets a cap of $445 in state funding per course. While the legislation limits certain categories of users eligible for state-supported enrollment, it preserves the ability for any approved IDLA user to enroll in courses by paying the full course fee.

Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

This legislation omits, “or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards," that was unintentionally left from prior draft.

Adds to existing law to provide for the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.

RS33743 / S1412 This legislation creates the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act to strengthen transparency and reporting requirements related to misconduct involving students. While Idaho Code §33-1210 governs the transfer of personnel files between school districts, this legislation clarifies reporting obligations and requires disclosure of pending investigations, resignations during investigations, and disciplinary actions involving misconduct when hiring individuals who will work with students. The bill also clarifies that educational entities may not conduct internal investigations in lieu of reporting suspected child abuse as required by Idaho law and requires that resignations, terminations, or administrative leave occurring during investigations of misconduct involving students be referred to the Idaho Professional Standards Commission for review.