All Roll Calls
Yes: 74 • No: 27
IdahoS 13622026 regular legislative sessionSenateWALLET
APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program for fiscal year 2027.
Sponsored By: FINANCE COMMITTEE
Signed by Governor
APPROPRIATIONS
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 11 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Funding for Idaho schools and operations
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $1.700246 billion for student support. This includes $126.0429 million for administrators, $1.2003726 billion for operations, and $373.8305 million for children's programs. Children's programs include $249.6478 million in federal funds. Separate allocations provide $12.5897 million for facilities and $19.2376 million for central services, both from the Public School Income Fund. Districts and charter schools receive an estimated $23,472 per support unit to use as they choose. A support unit is a school-funding measure, not a household payment. The law transfers $2.7732954 billion from the General Fund to the Public School Income Fund on or about July 1, 2026. It also allows specified fund transfers and accounting adjustments to meet school-funding requirements. Teachers, Student Support, Facilities, and the Idaho Digital Learning Academy are exempt from program transfer limits for this budget year. Central Services gets that exemption for transfers to other divisions needed to meet funding provisions. Year-end accounting includes excess funds and uncovered spending when calculating money available under the state's school-funding law.
Funding for Idaho teachers and staff pay
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $1.3551881 billion for public school teacher programs. This includes $1.3441881 billion from the Public School Income Fund and $11 million in federal funds. It adds $6,359 to each residential, professional, and advanced professional career-ladder funding cell for instructional and pupil service staff pay. Districts and charter schools distribute this money with other career-ladder funds and report their allocations to the state education department. The $6,359 is not a guaranteed payment or raise for each employee.
State police get toxicology lab funding
Beginning July 1, 2026, the law transfers $200,000 from the Public School Income Fund to Idaho State Police. The money increases forensic toxicology lab capacity. It does not create a household payment or a right to an individual service.
Help covering school employees' health benefits
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, schools on the state health plan receive an estimated $25,063.50 per support unit. Schools outside that plan receive an estimated $24,273.43 per support unit. Schools must first use this money to offset employee health, vision, and dental benefit or insurance costs. They can use money left after actual costs as they choose. The state verifies plan enrollment and adjusts distributions when enrollment changes; these are school allocations, not employee payments.
Education funding for deaf and blind students
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $17.1216 million for education services for deaf and blind students. This includes $16.8715 million from the Public School Income Fund and $250,100 from the school's endowment fund. The money supports specialized education services, not direct payments to students or families.
Funding for student testing and learning help
For budget year 2027, the law directs $4.715 million to coursework for students below proficiency on Idaho achievement tests. The state education department decides the amounts distributed. Another $2.4591 million supports literacy, help for failing schools outside Title I, math programs, regional math labs, and English-learner service evaluations. The law provides $1.2 million for adaptive math content. Up to $2.2585 million funds statewide tests, an 11th-grade college entrance exam, a 10th-grade preparatory exam, and high-school science course exams.
Online school courses get funding and caps
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the Idaho Digital Learning Academy receives $25.81 million from the Public School Income Fund. It must cap tuition charged to Idaho districts and charter schools at $40 per enrollment. That cap applies to school charges, not a stated family tuition rate. The academy must offer remedial coursework for students below state proficiency and advanced opportunities, including dual credit, under State Board rules. The state must report advanced-opportunity enrollment, completion, spending, and postsecondary outcomes, and publish an advanced opportunities report.
Schools get help supporting English learners
The law directs $4.37 million to districts and charter schools based on their shares of English learners. The state education department sets the rules for counting those students. Another $450,000 funds competitive grants for schools whose English learners miss statewide progress targets or long-term goals. Grants are paid annually in three-year cycles, depending on appropriations and the schools' ability to meet program goals. The law also provides $2.25 million for research-based programs serving students with no or limited English proficiency and addressing learning loss. The state designs the grant program and requires reports on results.
Schools get safety and prevention money
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, schools can receive up to $4.3249 million from available cigarette, tobacco, and lottery tax funds. Each district or charter school receives a $2,000 base amount plus a share based on the prior year's average daily attendance. Schools must use the money for safety improvements, substance abuse prevention, or both. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law also transfers $80,000 from the Public School Income Fund to the Commission on Hispanic Affairs. The commission must use it for substance abuse prevention with the state education department.
Schools get technology and digital learning funds
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law distributes $36.5 million for classroom technology, wireless infrastructure, and learning management systems. The state sets the distribution formula; districts and charter schools choose their learning management systems. Those systems must connect with student records and support managing, tracking, and documenting student and classroom learning. Schools also receive $1.6 million for digital content and curricula they choose, distributed under existing state law. Up to $1.57 million funds technology education and certification contracts. Each program must include at least three components from certification, teacher training, curriculum integration, research-based online content, and instructional software. The state must report the certificates earned.
Teacher training funds emphasize early reading
For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law directs $13.75 million from the Public School Income Fund to staff development. The state distributes it by formula and tracks its use and results, including support for mentoring and collaboration. Training should have measurable results and appear in school improvement plans where possible. The law also provides up to $4.5 million for statewide professional development and tracking, and $5 million for intensive early-reading training and coaching. Reading experts trained in the science of reading provide coaching; kindergarten–third-grade teachers receive training on a three-year cycle. The state prioritizes the lowest-performing schools and expands training as resources allow.
School payments depend on enrollment compliance
The state education department must withhold a district's November payment until it complies with Idaho's open enrollment law. This affects district funding, not a household payment duty. The law also requires open, competitive purchasing under state law. By December 1, 2026, the department must report budget-year 2026 contracts worth more than $25,000 to the legislature's budget committee. Reports must identify amounts, duration, parties, purpose, purchasing method, and reasons for noncompetitive awards. Program spending, distribution, purchasing, and outcome reports are due to legislative budget and education bodies by January 5, 2027. The law defines when funds count as distributed or spent to track whether money reaches schools or covers authorized contracts and administration.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
Cindy J. Carlson
Republican • Senate
James Petzke
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/1/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 21 • No: 13
House vote • 4/1/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 53 • No: 14
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor on 04/10/26 Session Law Chapter 330 Effective: 07/01/2026
4/2/2026Reported delivered to Governor at 5 p.m. on 04/02/26
4/2/2026Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
4/2/2026Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
4/2/2026HouseReported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
4/2/2026SenateReturned From House Passed; referred to enrolling
4/2/2026SenateRules Suspended: Ayes 66 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 4, read in full as required – PASSED - 53-14-3
4/1/2026HouseRead First Time, Filed for Second Reading
4/1/2026HouseReceived from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
4/1/2026HouseRead third time in full – PASSED - 21-13-1
4/1/2026SenateRetained on calendar
4/1/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/31/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/30/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/27/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/26/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/25/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/24/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/23/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/20/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/19/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/18/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/17/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/16/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/12/2026SenateRetained on calendar
3/11/2026Senate
Bill Text
Bill Text
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S 1452, APPROPRIATIONS – PUBLIC SCHOOLS – IDAHO DIGITAL LEARNING ACADEMY – Relates to the appropriation to the Public Schools Educational Support Program’s Division of the Idaho Digital Learning Academy for fiscal year 2027.