Bill Analyses and Ratings

Rating: 0

Bill Summary:

House Bill 305 revises Idaho’s public school funding formula by updating how the state calculates staff allowances for instructional, administrative, pupil service, and classified positions. These allowances are determined based on average daily attendance and support unit multipliers, which are adjusted through detailed formulas that take into account grade level, district size, and program type. The bill also provides modified calculations for small school districts and preserves flexibility for staff sharing arrangements and virtual education staffing models.

In addition, the bill outlines a process for applying reductions in instructional staff funding if a school district’s average class size exceeds the statewide average by more than one student. It delegates rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education to establish how the statewide average is calculated. An emergency clause makes the changes effective immediately upon passage.

Reason for Rating:

Although House Bill 305 reinforces the state’s role in determining how school staffing is funded, it does so by refining an existing system rather than introducing new mandates or expanding government programs. The bill is primarily technical in nature—it aims to bring consistency and predictability to the funding formula without fundamentally altering education policy or limiting local district governance in a new way. It maintains current structures with minor flexibility enhancements for small or rural districts and preserves options for virtual and collaborative staffing approaches.