Bill > S1317

This bill establishes Regional Service Centers (RSCs) to help Idaho school districts and public charter schools, referred to as Local Education Agencies (LEAs), address challenges in recruiting and retaining specialized staff, particularly those needed for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These centers will be voluntary, cooperative public entities formed by two or more LEAs through interlocal agreements to share educational and administrative services like accounting, finance, human resources, recruitment, professional development, and information technology. Prospective RSCs must submit a governing charter and application to the state superintendent of public instruction for approval, which will then lead to the establishment of an RSC board with specific powers, including hiring staff, entering into agreements for services on a fee-for-service basis, and managing finances, though RSCs will not have authority over curriculum, instruction, or student enrollment, which remain with individual LEAs. The bill also creates a "Regional Service Center Contracts Fund" in the state treasury to hold legislative appropriations, donations, interest, and moneys received from contracts, which will be continuously appropriated to finance fee-for-service program costs.

Education, Justice

Education Committee (Senate)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/S1317/