IdahoIdaho directs public school funds to programs, staff pay, and safety
For fiscal year 2027, Idaho directs school funding to program divisions, staff compensation, and safety or substance abuse prevention efforts.
What it does
For fiscal year 2027, the law provides about $3.13 billion for Idaho public school programs, including teacher, student support, facilities, and digital learning programs.
The law allocates an additional $6,359 to each of three career ladder rungs for instructional and pupil service staff compensation.
Up to $4,324,900 in available cigarette, tobacco, and lottery tax funds goes to districts and charter schools for safety improvements or substance abuse prevention.
Argument forFunded staff training may help teachers and student support staff improve learning, while state tracking could show how the training is used and works.
Argument againstDistricts and charter schools may have less flexibility because they must use these funds for staff compensation and report how they allocate them.
More detail
The law provides fiscal year 2027 funding for public school program divisions. The funding covers divisions for teachers, student support, facilities, central services, and services for deaf and blind students, as well as the Idaho Digital Learning Academy. The appropriations come from the funds listed for each program division. The appropriations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law allocates funds for instructional and pupil service staff compensation. The allocation applies to the residential, professional, and advanced professional career ladder rungs. The funds must be used for staff compensation. Districts and charter schools must report their allocations to the State Department of Education. The funds are distributed with other career ladder allocations from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The law directs available cigarette, tobacco, and lottery tax funds to school safety or substance abuse prevention. School districts and public charter schools receive a base amount plus a share based on the prior year's average daily attendance. The distribution may use up to $4,324,900 from available revenue funds. Schools may use the money for safety improvements, substance abuse prevention programs, or both. The distribution covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Signed by Governor Brad Little on 04/10/26 Session Law Chapter 330 Effective: 07/01/2026Became Law
- Apr 2Reported delivered to Governor at 5 p.m. on 04/02/26To Governor
- Apr 2Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 2Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to SenateMajor
- Apr 2Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of SpeakerMajor
- Apr 2Returned From House Passed; referred to enrollingMinor
- Apr 1Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – PASSED - 53-14-3AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon(Cannon), Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert(Beazer), Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Haws, Healey, Hill(Hill), Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Shepherd, Shirts(Batt), Tanner(14), Vander Woude, Veile, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Beiswenger, Cayler, Green, Hawkins, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Rasor, Rubel, Scott, Skaug, Tanner(13), Thompson, WisniewskiAbsent – Palmer, Weber, WheelerFloor Sponsor - PetzkeTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Read third time in full –. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Read First Time, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Apr 1Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Apr 1Read third time in full – PASSED - 21-13-1AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Galloway, Grow, Harris, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, WoodwardNAYS – Blaylock, Foreman, Guthrie, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Rabe, Semmelroth, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Zito, ZuiderveldAbsent and excused – RuchtiFloor Sponsor - CarlsonTitle apvd - to HousePassed 1st Chamber
- Apr 1Retained on calendar
- Mar 31Retained on calendar
- Mar 30Retained on calendar
- Mar 27Retained on calendar
- Mar 26Retained on calendar
- Mar 25Retained on calendar
- Mar 24Retained on calendar
- Mar 23Retained on calendar
- Mar 20Retained on calendar
- Mar 19Retained on calendar
- Mar 18Retained on calendar
- Mar 17Retained on calendar
- Mar 16Retained on calendar
- Mar 12Retained on calendar
- Mar 11Retained on calendar
- Mar 10Retained on calendar
- Mar 9Retained on calendar
- Mar 5Read second time; filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 4Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second readingMinor
- Mar 4Reported Printed; referred to Finance
- Mar 3Introduced; read first time; referred to JR for PrintingIntroduced
EducationTaxes & Budget