House Bill 629 Summary

• Appropriates $321,752,600 total ($78.7 million General Fund, $4.0 million tobacco/cigarette/lottery taxes, $239 million federal grants) for Public Schools Educational Support Program's Division of Children's Programs for fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021).

• Caps Idaho Digital Learning Academy tuition at $75.00 per enrollment and directs funds toward remedial coursework, advanced learning opportunities, and dual credit coursework.

• Distributes $4,024,900 from tobacco/cigarette/lottery taxes to school districts and charter schools ($2,000 base plus prorated amount based on average daily attendance) for school safety improvements and substance abuse prevention programs.

• Allocates specific funding amounts for English language learner support ($4,820,000), gifted and talented programs ($1,000,000), remedial coursework ($4,715,000), and digital content/curriculum purchases ($1,600,000).

• Transfers $80,000 to Commission on Hispanic Affairs and $200,000 to Idaho State Police for substance abuse prevention and forensic services respectively; requires reporting on advanced opportunities enrollment and literacy intervention program effectiveness by January 15, 2021.