Committee approves bill to restore school funds

House lawmakers have taken a critical step toward restoring more than $30 million in current budgets for Idaho’s public schools.

The House Education Committee unanimously approved legislation Thursday to put back money that was lost when voters repealed the 2011 Students Come First laws last fall. Rejection of those laws translated to a mid-year funding cut to schools, even though districts were counting on that money to make ends meet this year.

Eagle Republican Rep. Reed DeMordaunt said the bill includes money for students taking college courses and about $4 million needed to pay for new math and science teachers hired at the start of the school year.

The bill now goes to the floor of the House for debate.