Idaho’s new education laws, effective July 1, bring significant changes to the state’s public schools. One key change is the restriction on taxpayer funding for teachers’ unions. Public schools can no longer use taxpayer resources to accommodate teachers’ unions, including giving teachers paid time off for union activities or using payroll systems to deduct union dues.

Union Activities and Civics Instruction

The list of union activities in House Bill 516 is long and includes restrictions on school districts giving teachers paid time off to participate in these activities unless the union reimburses the district. Additionally, Senate Bill 1336 requires public schools to ensure that their civics instruction aligns with a law aimed at cultivating the virtue and knowledge necessary for self-government.

By the time public school students graduate, they must exemplify the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, moderation, and patriotism while understanding the fundamental principles of the nation’s republican form of government along with the history, meaning, significance, and effect of key historical documents.

Other Changes

Other changes include the requirement for public school students to start each school day with a moment of silence, and the restriction on school districts conducting internal investigations of abuse in lieu of reporting an incident to law enforcement. Furthermore, parents will now have the right to be notified if their child identifies as a different gender at school, and schools could face a six-figure penalty for failing to comply.

High-needs funding is also available for public schools, with up to $100,000 in state funding for high-needs special education students. The state will fully reimburse costs between $30,000 and $80,000, and costs above $80,000 will be reimbursed at 80%, with reimbursement capped at $100,000.

Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.