In Idaho, the state’s school funding formula, which has not been updated since the 1990s, is under scrutiny as officials seek input from educators, parents, and other stakeholders. The initiative, led by State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, aims to address concerns about the current system’s inability to meet the diverse needs of students, particularly those with special needs.
Local Concerns and Legislative Actions
Bessie Yeley, a parent from Nampa, expressed frustration at a recent public forum in Boise, highlighting a significant funding gap for special education. Despite these concerns, last year the Idaho Legislature allocated $50 million to private and home-schooling parents, leaving public school special education needs unmet.
Greg Wilson, Critchfield’s chief of staff, emphasized the need for a flexible funding model that can adapt to local student needs. The current attendance-based formula, which funds schools based on the number of students attending rather than enrolled, has been criticized for its lack of predictability.
Proposals for Change
During the forum, school officials suggested shifting to an enrollment-based funding model, which was temporarily adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This model, they argue, would provide more stability and align better with how schools plan their budgets and staffing.
Dave Roberts from the West Ada School District advocated for a funding formula that considers individual student needs, proposing a per-student model with additional weights for factors like special education requirements.
Challenges and Future Steps
Senator Dave Lent, who sponsored a resolution to update the funding formula, led the discussion, emphasizing collaboration among lawmakers. Although previous attempts to pass related legislation have stalled, the Department of Education is moving forward with drafting a new policy bill.
School leaders also raised concerns about the disconnect between state and national standardized testing outcomes, which impacts perceptions of student and teacher performance. Future updates to the funding formula may include components tied to student outcomes, but officials stress the need for a fair assessment system first.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
