Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

House Bill 175 revises and expands Idaho’s Advanced Opportunities program, which provides state-funded support for public and nonpublic school students in grades 7–12 to pursue accelerated educational paths. It increases flexibility and access to various educational resources by clarifying eligible uses of funds and adding new categories of support.

For public school students, the bill maintains a $4,625 lifetime cap and clarifies usage for dual credit courses, overload courses, CTE certifications, workforce training, and college entrance exams. It tightens oversight on repeated failures, requires goal-setting after 15 postsecondary credits, and emphasizes postsecondary advising. It also authorizes early graduation scholarships, encourages partnerships with colleges, and improves procedures for credit transcription and reimbursements.

For nonpublic school students, the bill grants up to $2,500 for eligible dual credit and technical certification exams and extends eligibility to include SAT, PSAT, and ACT testing. New provisions also allow community colleges to enroll homeschool students directly.

The bill streamlines reimbursement processes, reinforces district-level oversight, and includes annual reporting requirements for transparency. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

H0175 aligns with multiple Idaho Republican Party Platform planks, especially support for educational choice, technical training, career readiness, and accountability in state-funded programs. It strengthens the value of taxpayer dollars by expanding student access to higher education and vocational training without growing the K–12 bureaucracy. By extending program eligibility to homeschoolers and private school students, it upholds parental rights and school choice. The bill does not increase spending caps or create new entitlements—it simply ensures existing funds are used more effectively and equitably. As such, it deserves a +1 rating.