Rep. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, has proposed sending HB 206, the charter school facilities funding bill, to the House’s amending order, with a committee amendment attached to limit the funds to charter schools that have been in existence for two years and meet state academic standards. “I know that there are some charter schools that have failed within a year’s time,” Ward-Engelking said. “Some charter schools fail. It’s an experiment in innovation and creativity and they don’t always succeed. Two years gives them a chance to get up and running. They usually, by that time, if they’re successful, they’re growing and they need that additional facilities money. That’s the reason for putting this in, just a little more accountability and transparency, because our public school districts certainly do have to do that when they go to the voter.”

She added, “My original goal in offering an amendment was just to ensure that all students in Idaho would receive facilities money from the state. However, it is not economically feasible at this time to do that.”