Bill > S1096

This bill introduces a weighted per-student funding formula for Idaho's public schools, fundamentally changing how educational funding is calculated. The bill defines a new approach to school funding that moves away from the traditional support unit system to a more nuanced model that provides additional funding for students with specific characteristics. Under this new formula, schools will receive base funding per student, with extra weights added for students who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, have special education needs, attend small schools, are gifted and talented, or are at-risk and attending alternative schools. For example, an economically disadvantaged student would generate 25% more funding than a standard student, while a special education student would generate 175% more funding. The bill also ensures that schools with few students meeting these criteria will still receive meaningful additional funding, guaranteeing a minimum of five students' worth of weighted funding for each characteristic. This change aims to provide more targeted financial support to schools based on the specific needs of their student populations, potentially helping schools with more challenging student demographics to access additional resources. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving schools time to prepare for the new funding mechanism.

Education, Justice

Education Committee (S)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/S1096/