BOISE, ID—Idaho Superintendent Debbie Critchfield today applauds the K-12 public school budget recommendations approved by the Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. The committee’s recommendations can now be voted on by both the full House and Senate.
From Critchfield’s Office:
Among the recommendations is a supplemental appropriation that would provide a mechanism for Idaho schools to receive more than $100 million in funding allocated by 2022’s House Bill 1. That legislation provided $330 million for schools. However, a portion of these funds were not accessible based on the state’s 2023 reversion to an attendance-based funding formula from a COVID-era enrollment-based model. Today’s action also includes a record amount of discretionary/operational funding that provides more local budgeting control.
Securing the supplemental allocation was a top legislative priority for Critchfield entering the 2024 session.
“I applaud the steps JFAC took this morning to support our public schools, specifically around fulfilling the legislature’s commitments associated with HB1,” Critchfield said. “I appreciate the committee’s willingness to follow through on the funding allocations set forth in that legislation. I encourage both the Senate and House to approve these bills in the coming days.”
“At this point, my work at the Capitol is focused on a policy bill that complements today’s JFAC action on the K-12 budget,” she added. “It includes per-student amounts with weights for students receiving special education services, economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, at-risk students and small schools. I’ve worked extensively with legislators and stakeholders dating all the way back to last summer to develop this policy, and I’m hopeful leadership allows this legislation to be considered on behalf of our K-12 public school students.”
Once a final K-12 budget is approved by the legislature and signed into law, the Department of Education will communicate with education stakeholders across the state on the specifics of the FY 2025 allocations.
