This bill amends Section 33-5203 of the Idaho Code to revise the approval process for public charter schools. Key changes include the removal of the phrase "No whole" and the insertion of "Any" to allow any school district to convert to a charter district or have all its schools operate as public charter schools. The bill also clarifies that the authorizer must receive applications for new charter schools by September 1 to begin instruction the following school year, and that newly chartered schools must be authorized by January 1 of the previous school year unless an extension is agreed upon. Additionally, it specifies that converting existing traditional public schools or districts to charter status requires approval from the respective school district's board of trustees.

Further provisions in the bill prohibit the approval of charters for converting private or parochial schools, for-profit entities, or for schools located outside the boundaries of the authorizing district. It also establishes that charter holders cannot operate unrelated enterprises using state education funding and designates each authorized public charter school as a local education agency (LEA), with options for inclusion in the district's LEA or for multiple charters to operate as a single LEA. The bill declares an emergency, making it effective from July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-5203