The Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) operates under the direction of the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, whose office is established in Idaho Code § 33-125, with duties defined in § 33-126 and § 33-127. The department functions as the administrative arm of the state’s public education system and is responsible for implementing the education laws enacted by the Legislature and the policies adopted by the State Board of Education.

The SDE administers state and federal education programs, manages state funding distributions, and oversees financial reporting from local districts as required under Idaho Code § 33-120 and § 33-133. The department collects and compiles education data on enrollment, staffing, and expenditures, and publishes statewide reports used for fiscal planning and accountability. It administers programs that include facilities-related provisions, such as the Bond Levy Equalization Support Program established in Idaho Code § 33-906, and assists the State Board of Education in implementing rules governing the reporting of unsafe or unhealthy school conditions under Idaho Code § 33-1613.

The SDE collaborates with the Office of School Safety and Security (OSSS) and other state agencies on statewide safety and emergency preparedness coordination. Oversight of school property acquisition, construction, and maintenance remains under the authority of local boards of trustees in accordance with Idaho Code § 33-512, while the department’s role is limited to administration, data reporting, and program management within the state’s public education system.

The Division of Building Safety (DBS) administers the Idaho Building Code Act, codified in Idaho Code §§ 39-4101 through 39-4116. The division provides statewide administration of construction standards, oversees licensing of building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical professionals, and monitors code enforcement activities carried out by local jurisdictions. The Idaho Building Code Board, established under Idaho Code § 39-4106, serves as the policy and rulemaking body responsible for adopting and updating the state building codes.

Under Idaho Code § 39-4109, the Board adopts by rule the editions of the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and International Mechanical Code (IMC), implemented through IDAPA 07.03.01. These codes establish the minimum construction, structural, fire, and energy standards applicable to all buildings in the state, including public school facilities. Cities and counties are responsible for local enforcement through permitting, plan review, and inspection before occupancy.

DBS provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions and maintains authority for statewide code adoption, interpretation, and training. Its responsibilities are regulatory rather than project-based; local building departments conduct enforcement for K–12 construction.

Office of School Safety and Security

The Office of School Safety and Security (OSSS) operates within the Division of Building Safety. The office was established in 2016 to conduct school safety and security assessments and to support local education agencies in strengthening safety practices and emergency preparedness. Under Idaho Code § 33-5903, OSSS must conduct security assessments of every public school on a rotating basis and maintain a consistent statewide process for evaluating school safety. Pursuant to § 33-5905, the office coordinates training and provides technical assistance for administrators, staff, and first responders. It collaborates with the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, the State Department of Education, and local law enforcement agencies to align school safety planning with state emergency management systems. Assessment data and related reports are transmitted to the Division of Building Safety and the State Board of Education as required by law.

The Division of Public Works (DPW) operates within the Department of Administration under Idaho Code § 67-5710, which establishes the division and defines its responsibilities for the construction, alteration, repair, and improvement of state-owned buildings. The division administers the Permanent Building Fund under Idaho Code § 67-5710A, which provides for the financing of state capital projects through legislative appropriations and other authorized revenues. The Administrator of Public Works, designated under Idaho Code § 67-5711C, manages the design and construction of capital improvement projects for state agencies, procures professional architectural and engineering services, and ensures compliance with applicable public works contracting and bidding requirements.

DPW’s statutory authority applies to state-owned properties and does not extend to school district facilities, which are owned and managed locally under Idaho Code § 33-512. Local school districts are responsible for procuring professional design and construction services consistent with Idaho’s public works contracting laws (Idaho Code § 67-2805) and professional services procurement requirements (Idaho Code § 67-2320).

Although the division has no direct role in K–12 school construction, its work establishes statewide standards and procedures for state capital projects and public works procurement that also apply to other political subdivisions when undertaking similar construction activities.

Department of Environmental Quality

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is authorized under Idaho Code § 39-101 et seq. to administer state environmental protection and public health programs. The department’s regulatory authority includes oversight of drinking water, wastewater, and hazardous waste management systems that apply to school facilities.

Under Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems (IDAPA 58.01.08), DEQ regulates all public water systems, including those that serve K–12 schools, to ensure compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and state drinking water standards. The rule establishes requirements for sampling, monitoring, reporting, and corrective actions for contaminants such as lead and copper in school water systems.

DEQ also administers the hazardous waste management program under IDAPA 58.01.05 and the solid waste management program under IDAPA 58.01.06. These rules govern the storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous and solid wastes that may occur in the operation or renovation of school facilities.