Empowering Parents Grant Program

TITLE 33 EDUCATION CHAPTER 10 FOUNDATION PROGRAM — STATE AID — APPORTIONMENT 33-1031. empowering parents grant program. [EFFECTIVE UNTIL JULY 1, 2028] (1) There is hereby established the empowering parents grant program, to be administered by the board according to the provisions of this section. The purpose of the program is to provide education grants for eligible students. (2)  In order to administer the program, the board: (a)  Shall create and administer, or designate a third party to create and administer, a grant distribution platform; (b)  Shall establish a grant application process for parents; (c)  Shall establish provisions for the reimbursement of any eligible education expense for which reimbursement is required and direct payment from the platform is not permitted pursuant to section 33-1030 (3)(a), Idaho Code; (d)  Shall, subject to appropriation, award grants. Grant awards shall be made in the following order of preference: (i)   First to eligible students whose household has an adjusted gross income under sixty thousand dollars ($60,000), as verified by the Idaho state tax commission using the prior year’s tax returns. Notification of grant awards for students in this category shall be made within thirty (30) days of application, and grant funds shall be made available for participants’ use as soon as practicable, but no later than thirty (30) days after the notification of a grant award; (ii)  Starting sixty (60) days after grant awards in a fiscal year are made under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, to eligible students whose household has an adjusted gross income under seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000), as verified by the Idaho state tax commission using the prior year’s tax returns; and (iii) Starting sixty (60) days after grant awards in a fiscal year are made under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, to all other eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are distributed; and (e)  May take such other actions as are necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of this section. (3)  Prior to the award of a grant, the parent of a participant shall agree to verify program compliance. The parent of a participant shall use grant funds only for eligible education expenses. If a parent is found to misuse grant funds, then neither the parent nor another parent of the student living in the same household may apply for a grant in the future for any student, provided that the parent may appeal the finding to the board. (4)  Grant funds shall be expended within three (3) years after they are awarded. Any unused funds at the end of the three (3) year period shall revert to the empowering parents grant program fund established in section 33-1034 , Idaho Code. At any time before the three (3) year period ends, unused funds may be forfeited and transferred from the participant account to the program fund. (5)  Grant awards per family shall be capped at three thousand dollars ($3,000), regardless of the number of eligible students in the family. (6)  No grant awards shall be made under the provisions of this section on or after the effective date of this act. Any grants awarded prior to the effective date of this act may be used as provided in this section.