This bill amends Section 33-5203 of the Idaho Code to revise the approval process for public charter schools. Key changes include the replacement of "No whole" with "Any" to allow any school district to convert to a charter district or include all schools as public charter schools. The bill establishes deadlines for authorizers to receive applications for new charter schools and mandates that newly chartered schools must be authorized by January 1 of the previous school year, unless an extension is agreed upon. Additionally, it clarifies that converting existing traditional public schools or districts to charter status requires approval from the respective school district's board of trustees.

The bill also specifies that charter schools cannot be approved for the conversion of private or parochial schools, nor for for-profit entities, although they can contract with for-profit service providers for operational support. Furthermore, it designates each authorized public charter school as a local education agency (LEA) unless otherwise agreed upon, and requires notification of such agreements to the state department of education by February 1 of the preceding school year. The act declares an emergency, making it effective from July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-5203