ID H0293

Establishes a reimbursement program where the state department of education distributes payments from the public schools budget to parents or guardians of students who withdraw from school due to lack of full-time, in-person instruction.

Requires schools to provide full-time, in-person instruction on school premises for a minimum of 4 days per week (excluding holidays and weekends) for students to remain enrolled without triggering the reimbursement program.

Payment amount equals the average state funds appropriated per student during the previous school year, prorated based on the length of enrollment, with school district or charter school general fund distributions reduced accordingly.

Eligible education expenses include computer hardware and internet access, private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks and curriculum, therapies (occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language, audiology), and other board-approved educational services.

Parents must verify use of reimbursements for eligible expenses and must return any unused funds to the board for deposit in the public school income fund; the program expires July 1, 2022.