ACADEMICS / PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

Registration for Idaho public schools usually occurs in late spring, but it is also possible to register in August and on the opening day of school. School offices are also open for registration two weeks before the school year begins. Registration takes place at the school your child will attend. You will need proof of age (such as a legal birth certificate or baptismal record) and a current immunization record. The month, day, and year of each immunization must be included and the form must be signed by a physician.

The Idaho Immunization Law requires that children of grades pre-school through 12 shall provide proof of immunization or sign an exemption at the time of initial enrollment in an Idaho school. Parents or guardians should provide a copy of the student’s immunizations to the school at the time of registration, before the student attends school.

Parents may choose to exempt their child from the state school immunization requirements for personal, medical or religious reasons.  If an exemption is submitted, and there is an outbreak of the disease for which the exemption is signed, the exempted student may be excluded from school for the period deemed necessary by public health officials.

To enter kindergarten, a child must be at least five years of age prior to September 1 of the current school year (or at least six years of age on or before September 1 for first grade). For more information or answers to your specific questions on education in Idaho, contact the following:

Idaho Department of Education
650 West State Street
Boise 208-332-6800
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/departments.html

Performance Indicators
Idaho students participate in several unique statewide assessments to demonstrate what they know and can do, two of the tests are the  Idaho English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) and the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI). These results help inform parents, teachers, and other stakeholders about current student achievement, while identifying opportunities for continued improvement and growth. The State Department of Education also calculates and reports high school graduation rates, which are a critical cumulative measure in making sure all Idaho students are ready for college and careers.

Assessment & Accountability
Idaho Department of Education
650 West State Street
Boise 208-332-6800
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/assessment/index.html


Charter Schools
Charter schools are free, public schools open to all students. Charter schools give parents a choice to sending their children to a school that uses innovative methods to provide a quality education. A charter school is designed by a group of parents, educators, and/or community members and is mission driven. They follow the same rules and regulations as public schools and participate in the same state-mandated assessments. Parents must apply to enroll their children in charter schools. Charter schools are operated by independent boards and are given permission to operate by an approved authorizer.

Idaho Charter Schools
Idaho Department of Education
650 West State Street
Boise 208-332-6963
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/school-choice/charter/

Exceptional Student Services
The Department of Education provides a full range of programs for gifted and talented students as well as those with handicaps and disabilities. All Idaho school districts are required under federal and state laws and regulations to ensure that handicapped students receive a free appropriate public education that includes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs. If some services are not provided by your school district, it is possible that no students have required that particular service or another agency is meeting the need. For answers to specific questions or more information, contact the following offices:

Exceptional Student Services
Boise 208-332-6940
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/academic/gifted-talented/

US Department of Education
For the most comprehensive listings and information about any school in the United States, click on one of the links below to access the US Dept. of Education’s list of links to every school district in the United States and to find out detailed information about every school district by state, city or town.

National Center For Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/datatools/

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