Idaho Statutes Title 6. Actions in Particular Cases § 6-2202. Purpose of chapter--Definition of constitutionally based educational claim

Section 1, article IX, of the constitution of the state of Idaho provides: “The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.” The purpose of this chapter is to provide a mechanism for adjudicating the performance of that duty when there are allegations that public schools do not provide educational services that they are required to provide as part of a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools. In this chapter, a constitutionally based educational claim is defined as a claim that public schools are not providing educational services that they are required to provide under section 1, article IX, of the constitution of the state of Idaho, and constitutionally required educational services are defined as the educational services that must be provided under section 1, article IX, of the constitution of the state of Idaho. In particular, this chapter provides procedures for adjudicating constitutionally based educational claims and administrative and judicial remedies to be implemented when public schools in a specific local school district are not providing constitutionally required educational services as part of a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools that has been established by the legislature. It is the policy of this chapter whenever possible that constitutionally based educational claims shall be settled locally through consent agreements or plans proposed by local school districts and that state intervention in local school districts be a last resort.