House Bill 225 Summary

• Repeals and replaces Section 33-1003, Idaho Code, to establish comprehensive provisions for special applications of the Educational Support Program for Idaho schools.

• Allows school districts with a 3% or more decrease in average daily attendance to base their funding on the prior year's attendance minus 3%, with the reduction distributed uniformly across all districts statewide; exempts public charter schools from this provision.

• Establishes separate funding mechanisms for elementary schools, secondary schools, hardship schools, and elementary/secondary schools based on distance requirements (10 miles for elementary, 15 miles for secondary) from other schools in the district.

• Requires elementary schools with fewer than 10 pupils in average daily attendance to obtain state board approval before participating in state or county support programs.

• Allows school districts to petition the state board of education to recognize schools as remote and necessary based on geographical or topographical isolation, with petitions due 90 days before annual board meetings and board decisions required within 45 days.

• Provides funding protections for consolidated districts formed after January 1, 2007, guaranteeing support program allowances for 7 years at combined levels of component districts, then transitioning to a halfway point between historical and actual support units.