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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho establishes High-Needs Student Fund to reimburse school districts for special education costs exceeding $30,000
Last action · April 1, 2026: Signed by Governor on 03/31/26 Session Law Chapter 234 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Senate Bill 1288 establishes the Idaho High-Needs Student Fund, administered by the State Department of Education, to provide financial reimbursements to local education agencies for special education and related services costs that exceed $30,000 per student. The measure takes effect on July 1, 2026, and sets specific reimbursement tiers up to a maximum of $100,000 per student, with funds apportioned between rural and non-rural school districts.
School districts and charter schools facing high costs for specialized student education plans can receive state reimbursements for expenses between $30,000 and $100,000, affecting local district budgets and property tax reliance for special education mandates.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
local education agencies
School districts and independent public charter schools may apply for annual financial reimbursements for high-needs student costs.
high-needs students
Students with disabilities whose individualized education program costs exceed $30,000 receive specialized educational instruction and services funded through this program.
State Department of Education
The department administers the fund, reviews and approves applications, disburses reimbursements, and submits annual reports to state leadership.
Key Facts
- Establishes the Idaho High-Needs Student Fund in the state treasury, to be administered by the State Department of Education.
- Defines 'eligible costs' as individualized education program-related expenses exceeding thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) incurred solely for providing special education and related services.
- Sets reimbursement levels at up to 100% of costs above $30,000 and up to $80,000, and up to 80% of costs above $80,000, with a maximum reimbursement of $100,000 per student.
- Reserves up to 60% of fund moneys as of July 1 for non-rural local education agencies and up to 40% for rural local education agencies.
Show all 7 facts
- Requires local education agencies to apply annually by June 1 with a detailed list of eligible costs and an attestation of transparency.
- Mandates that the State Department of Education report annually to the governor, legislative education committees, and the state board of education beginning by January 5, 2028.
- Provides that the act takes full force and effect on July 1, 2026, due to an emergency declaration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifies a student as a 'high-needs student' under this law?
How much reimbursement can a local education agency receive per student?
How are the fund moneys divided between rural and non-rural school districts?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- Apr 1, 2026EnrolledSigned by Governor on 03/31/26 Session Law Chapter 234 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 26, 2026Reported delivered to Governor at 11:16 a.m. on 03/26/26
- Mar 26, 2026Reported signed by the Speaker & ordered delivered to Governor
- Mar 25, 2026Received from Senate; Signed by Speaker; Returned to Senate
- Mar 25, 2026Reported enrolled; signed by President; to House for signature of Speaker
- Mar 24, 2026CommitteeReturned From House Passed; referred to enrolling
Show 10 earlier actions
- Mar 24, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 49-21-0 AYES – Barbieri, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Cannon, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Haws, Healey, Holtzclaw, Manwaring, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler NAYS – Alfieri, Beiswenger, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cayler, Ehlers, Harris, Hawkins, Hill, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mitchell, Monks, Price, Rasor, Scott, Tanner(14), Thompson, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker Absent – None Floor Sponsor - Mendive Title apvd - to Senate
- Mar 23, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Mar 20, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Feb 27, 2026IntroducedRead First Time, Referred to Education
- Feb 27, 2026Received from the Senate, Filed for First Reading
- Feb 26, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 22-12-1 AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Lakey, Lent, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Taylor, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woodward NAYS – Adams, Carlson, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Shippy, Toews, Zito, Zuiderveld Absent and excused – Bjerke Floor Sponsor - Blaylock Title apvd - to House
- Feb 20, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Feb 19, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Feb 16, 2026CommitteeReported Printed; referred to Education
- Feb 13, 2026IntroducedIntroduced; read first time; referred to JR for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Dedicated High-Needs Special Education Reimbursement
Idaho establishes a structured state-level funding pool specifically directed at offsetting individualized special education costs above $30,000 for local education agencies.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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