After much debate, the House has voted 51-19 in favor of HB 303, legislation introduced through the Ways & Means Committee to make several changes in school funding rules in light of budget cuts, including easing rules regarding spending of federal stimulus money, giving school districts some relief from "use it or lose it" funding requirements, and promoting more "virtual" instruction to get classes offered by qualified teachers. Opponents said the bill included too many different topics, and much of the controversy was about the increase in "virtual," or online, education into regular public schools. "We are attempting to make a huge expansion of virtual education into the traditional school during these final few weeks of the session," said Rep. Donna Boe, D-Pocatello. "It offers a permanent solution for a temporary problem." Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, questioned whether "we could end up with having students parked in front of computers and having minimal support in terms of educators on-site," rather than trying to hire highly qualified teachers in rural districts.

Rep. Mack Shirley, R-Rexburg, said, "I see it just the opposite - I think virtual education can be a blessing and a boon to rural education. ... I think the majority of districts in the state of Idaho would benefit from this legislation." Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, said his brother lives in Salt Lake City, but teaches at San Jose State in California. "We live in a time when innovation is our friend and not our enemy," he told the House. "We live in a totally different age, and we ought to embrace this concept." The bill now moves to the Senate.

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