HB 669 - Hope and Opportunity Scholarship Program

• Establishes the Hope and Opportunity Scholarship Program administered by the State Department of Education, providing scholarship accounts equal to 80% of statewide average per-pupil general maintenance and operations expenditures.

• Makes eligible students who are Idaho residents with household income at or below 250% of federal free/reduced lunch thresholds and are enrolled in public school, have a disability, are siblings of participating students, or are entering kindergarten/first grade.

• Allows scholarship funds to be used for private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum materials, educational therapies, technology (up to $1,000 annually), standardized tests, summer programs, transportation, and other department-approved educational expenses—but not for home schooling.

• Establishes a seven-member Parent Review Commission to review questionable expenditures and appeals from education service providers regarding scholarship fund usage.

• Creates the Hope and Opportunity Scholarship Trust Fund and a separate expense fund for administration, with deposits made semiannually by August 15 and January 15, and unused funds rolling over year to year.

• Effective date: July 1, 2023.