The proposed legislation establishes the "Idaho Public Education Red Tape Reduction Program," which aims to streamline reporting requirements for public schools and enhance educational opportunities for families, particularly those with lower incomes. The bill requires the state department of education to identify and classify all current reporting requirements to prevent schools from facing excessive reporting beyond federal mandates. It introduces a universal education grant program, increasing the grant amount from $1,000 to $5,000 per student, with a cap of $15,000 per household, and allocates an additional $30 million for special education funding. A parent advisory panel will be created to provide recommendations on the program's implementation, and the empowering parents grant program fund will be capped at $50 million per tax year.

Additionally, the bill amends existing Idaho Code to clarify definitions and procedures related to school enrollment options for nonresident pupils. It introduces the term "special program" for classes with limited capacity and outlines a non-discriminatory enrollment process for school districts. The legislation mandates that districts determine and publicly report their maximum enrollment capacities for each grade level and special program, ensuring transparency in the enrollment process. This information must be regularly updated on the district's website and reported to the state board of education, which will compile and publish the data annually. The bill includes a severability clause and sets an effective date for the provisions to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-1030, 33-1031, 33-1032, 33-1034, 33-1401, 33-1402, 33-1409