Title 33 — EDUCATION

33-1601. Instruction in English language. Instruction in all subjects in the public schools, except that required for the teaching of foreign languages, shall be conducted in the English language. Provided, however, that for students where the language spoken in their home is not…

33-1602. United States constitution — National flag and colors — National anthem — "America" — Citizenship — civics test. (1) Instruction in the United States constitution shall be given in all elementary and secondary schools. The state board of education shall adopt any materia…

33-1603. Sectarian instruction forbidden. No sectarian or denominational doctrine shall be taught in the public schools, nor shall any books, tracts, papers or documents of sectarian or denominational character be used therein.

33-1604. Bible reading in public schools. Selections from the Bible, to be chosen from a list prepared from time to time by the state board of education, shall be read daily to each occupied classroom in each school district. Such reading shall be without comment or interpretatio…

33-1605. Health and physical fitness — Effects of alcohol, tobacco, stimulants and narcotics. In all school districts there shall be instruction in health and physical fitness, including effects of alcohol, stimulants, tobacco and narcotics on the human system. The state board of…

33-1606. Arbor day. A day during the month of April in each year, designated as Arbor Day, shall be observed by such exercises as will encourage the planting, preservation and protection of trees and shrubs.

33-1607. Americanization education of adults. The board of trustees of any school district is authorized to provide instruction for Americanization of adult residents of the state, including classes in reading, writing and speaking the English language; the principles of the Cons…

33-1608. Family life and sex education — Legislative policy. The legislature of the state of Idaho believes that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church and the schools can only complement an…

33-1609. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter: (1) "Abstinence" means the absence of any sexual activity prior to marriage, which activity includes physical contact between individuals involving intimate or private areas of the body that can potentially: (a) Result in pr…

33-1610. Involvement of parents and community groups. School districts shall involve parents and school district community groups in the planning, development, evaluation and revision of any instruction in sex education offered as a part of this new program.

33-1611. Excusing children from instruction in sex education. Any parent or legal guardian who wishes to have his child excused from any planned instruction in sex education may do so upon filing a written request to the school district board of trustees and the board of trustees…

33-1611A. requiring permission for instruction addressing human sexuality. (1) It is not the intent of the legislature that instruction regarding human sexuality as defined in section 33-1609, Idaho Code, shall be included or required in Idaho public schools. Prior to any child a…

33-1612. Thorough system of public schools. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Blended or hybrid instruction" means instruction through both in-person and virtual instruction. (b) "In-person instruction" means instruction in the physical presence of an individual employed by an Id…

33-1613. Safe public school facilities required. (1) Definition. As used in this section, "public school facilities" means the physical plant of improved or unimproved real property owned or operated by a school district, a charter school, or a school for children in any grades k…

33-1613A. Expenditures to abate unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Expenditures to abate unsafe or unhealthy conditions in public school facilities are ordinary and necessary expenses authorized by the general laws of this section within the meaning of section 3, article VIII, of th…

33-1614. Career exploration. (1) Starting in fiscal year 2024, every student in grade 7 or grade 8 enrolled in an Idaho public school district, a specially chartered district, or a public charter school shall complete one (1) or more career exploration courses. A student may opt …

33-1615. Financial literacy. (1) Each school district, specially charted district, and public charter school serving students in grades 9 through 12, or any combination thereof, shall provide to all students in grades 9 through 12 one (1) or more courses in personal financial lit…

33-1617. English language learners — Program requirements. It is legislative intent that the state board of education and state department of education develop statewide, research-based goals for students in Idaho who are English language learners. Goals shall specifically addres…

33-1618. Assessment exemption. A student who has not been enrolled for two (2) full school years in an elementary or secondary school in the United States and who scores less than a level two (2) on the state English language proficiency assessment used to determine English langu…

33-1619. virtual education programs. School districts may offer instruction via the internet in a distributed environment. For programs meeting such definition, the school district may count and report the average daily attendance of the program’s students in the manner prescribe…

33-1624. rules. The state department of education is hereby directed to promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act. Such rules may include a requirement that students successfully complete one (1) or more standardized assessments approved by the state department of …

33-1625. youth athletes — concussion and head injury guidelines and requirements. (1) The state board of education and the Idaho high school activities association shall provide access to appropriate guidelines and information that identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion …

33-1627. math initiative. (1) The legislature finds that mathematical skills are increasingly important to the future academic and career success of students. The legislature further finds that student mathematical skills are not currently meeting the needs of Idaho’s economy and…

33-1628. firearms safety education in primary and secondary schools. (1) The board of trustees of a school district is encouraged to establish and maintain an in-person firearms safety education course for primary and secondary school students. The trustees shall adopt an electiv…

33-1629. agricultural and natural resource education programs. (1) Idaho Quality Program Standards Incentive Grants. (a) The board for career technical education shall adopt and implement Idaho quality program standards for agricultural and natural resource education programs off…

33-1630. elementary and secondary education act flexibility document — state board of and state department of education duties. (1) The state board of education shall promulgate rules setting forth the provisions of the flexibility document associated with the federal elementary …

33-1631. REQUIREMENTS FOR HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. (1) School districts and charter schools shall undertake reasonable efforts to ensure that information on harassment, intimidation and bullying of students is disseminated an…

33-1632. MASTERY-BASED EDUCATION. (1) The legislature finds that moving toward mastery-based education where students progress as they demonstrate mastery of a subject or grade level is in the best interest of Idaho students. The legislature further finds that moving from the cur…

33-1633. computer science initiative for public schools. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Blended professional development" means to deliver content and training to teachers and administrators in a combination of online and face-to-face. (b) "Computer science" means the study of…

33-1634. computer science. Starting in fiscal year 2020, each school district, specially chartered district and public charter school serving students in grades 9 through 12 inclusive, or any combination thereof, shall make available to all students in grades 9 through 12 one (1)…

33-1635. career technical education program quality and workforce readiness incentive program. (1) It is the ultimate goal of the legislature that every student have access to career technical education courses and programs that lead to workforce readiness certification. (2) The …

33-1636. innovation classrooms. (1) For purposes of this section: (a) "Alternative curriculum" means a curriculum in one (1) or more subject areas that is different than the curriculum in such area or areas offered by a school district. An alternative curriculum may encompass one…

33-1637. human growth AND development instruction in public schools. (1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district, specially chartered district, and public charter school serving students in grades 5 through 12 inclusive, or any combination thereof, shall in…

33-1638. cursive handwriting proficiency requirement in Idaho public schools. (1) Idaho public schools shall require proficiency in cursive handwriting for students by the end of grade 5. "Cursive handwriting proficiency" means that students can write legibly in cursive. (2) The …