EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding prohibitions on excused absences for certain activities in public schools.
Summary
House Bill 794 would add a new section to Idaho education law prohibiting public schools, school districts, and teachers from granting excused absences for students who participate in political protests, work or volunteer for groups known to engage in political protests, or take part in student walkouts. Any absence for those activities would be treated as unexcused and would count against the district’s average daily attendance. The bill applies to Idaho public schools serving K-12 students, including public charter schools.
The bill also requires school districts to report annually the number of unexcused absences tied to these activities to the superintendent of public instruction, who must then provide an annual report to the Legislature beginning in January 2027. The State Board of Education would be directed to adopt implementing rules, subject to legislative approval, and the bill contains an emergency clause so it would take effect immediately upon passage and approval.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend Title 33 of the Idaho Code by creating a new section, Section 33-213, that limits school discretion over excused absences for politically related student activities. It would affect public school districts and charter schools by requiring them to classify certain protest- or walkout-related absences as unexcused and by tying those absences to attendance calculations. It would also create new reporting obligations for districts and the state superintendent, and would require rulemaking by the State Board of Education.
Sentiment
The bill’s stated purpose reflects a strong preference for political neutrality in public education and a concern that excused absences for protests or walkouts could create political favoritism or pressure on students. Based on the bill text, the overall sentiment is clearly supportive of restricting school involvement in political activism. No committee transcript or vote data was provided, so there is no recorded legislative debate or vote outcome to indicate broader support or opposition.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be whether schools should be allowed to excuse absences for civic or political participation, especially student walkouts and protest-related activities. Supporters would view the bill as protecting neutrality and preventing political pressure in schools, while opponents may argue it restricts student expression, civic engagement, and local school discretion. The bill’s inclusion of volunteering for groups known to engage in political protests may also raise questions about how that standard would be applied in practice.