[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6300985,"mediaKeyId","2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98","parentId",2490765,"title","Services for deaf and blind see rising enrollments; agency requests staff and campus capacity growth","audioSeconds",865,"startMs",5075000,"endMs",5940000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98&start=5075&end=5940","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98/thumbnail_5075000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6300985/Idaho/Services-for-deaf-and-blind-see-rising-enrollments-agency-requests-staff-and-campus-capacity-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300985-b27d9d041c96f188920a9a35882443a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770830514&Signature=QHTAGErRCc7VnniY74xUXOe~Qzq4f2TK8Rlab72yqZVkIzqVuLgO62EAJUSNKQxuWbWycGC9vg6bpF0zH~eIQEJTCYatl1udcleZJZYYeaC4b5re6btQ~kRgOt9ZFw70AWPZDgmXBr0fMTuGu2RG4Vu64rr4mXWqghsSG29gxppw~c0TQ4qhXzXAtn3BKnIL3iFRmAmDe7fDgFN3HerSqwl7NuEqSc1b8KkPiunVjtjz44IzfZb~goS5M7jpcDX9uYy4MeyRkof9ADHhrjb7u-exaCruegdVGOs5c0mJ8jT98Q3W2IyyC4FKalEv~SM1lEIOnmcSLUMcWk5EV2MsCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Idaho House of Representatives","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB) told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 4 that both campus and outreach programs have seen steady enrollment growth and that staff recruitment and caseload pressure are persistent challenges.

Jared Tetrault summarized IESDB’s enrollment trends, saying the campus population has grown from about 77 students in 2010 to roughly 122 in the most recent year while the outreach program served about 2,600 students (birth to 21). He noted IESDB’s appropriation increased over the last five years as enrollments rose.

IESDB Superintendent (transcript: Mr. Darcy) said the outreach program and campus operate different services: the campus enrolls school‑age resident students while outreach sends teachers and specialists into districts. The agency reported a cash balance consistent with state agencies (about 5% of operations) and said recent enhancements have focused on career ladder equivalents, additional compensation to recruit and retain credentialed staff and replacement vehicles for outreach travel.

Darcy told the committee the agency has several current vacancies for highly specialized positions — teachers, a speech‑language pathologist and interpreters — and said recruitment is constrained both by pay market differences and by a nationwide shortage of qualified specialists. He said planned construction of small residential cottages (10–20 beds anticipated) will address the campus housing wait list and increase capacity for students who require campus services.

Why it matters: IESDB serves a statewide and specialized population that requires credentials and travel‑intensive outreach. Staffing and small capital investments directly affect the agency’s ability to serve students with sensory impairments and alleviate caseloads in outreach regions.

The agency offered to provide comparative salary data to the committee; Tetrault explained CEC (change in employee compensation) increases and career‑ladder equivalents are separate budget adjustments the committee has considered in the public schools and specialized services budgets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Committee - March 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind reported rising campus and outreach enrollments and asked for career‑ladder equivalents and additional positions to reduce caseloads; the agency also plans new residential cottages to address a student housing wait list.","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Idaho","taxId",54706,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6300990,"IDLA growth prompts per‑enrollment funding change and proposed course‑fee cut",961,4129000,5090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98&start=4129&end=5090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98/thumbnail_4129000.jpg","/articles/6300990/Idaho/IDLA-growth-prompts-perenrollment-funding-change-and-proposed-coursefee-cut","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300990-698b7c83ecc1b050b36cdf69960691c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770830514&Signature=mujnNR~wJ62yt8WCk-Z~c6NDeZtfn9vTaSPXtmW5xkfmOiRDcnuiMQNLVGHKE0Ki8bywFO9bkoMkSU8U4dAiF3YCc5zEAenN4JNhenj52oQGPvv2DES-MhGC6517O9OEBlLxgC~GiDNhQi4w6vo6agIdmOBpFd4mMRNIjMAlyjQuaed70ip-x3FH9DiDZtPaHYWNaY7QAUFB-aWjeD~nsN0jRtI-cntAuo3w8-hZdskQkPweZHqz562WljoOn9DmUQwj48UA9cjl27MdOfuAlp4YJx-rVuLRAwfQpuGl29pCy55QnEZscLk-s7iBdQqQ0gQxP1qbLwF9JtuGTqSzXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeff Simmons, superintendent of the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 4 that IDLA’s recent enrollment growth is changing its funding profile now that the program is funded per eligible enrollment under House Bill 452.

IDLA’s appropriation is set at $430 per eligible enrollment. Jared Tetrault told the committee that IDLA’s budget will increase if enrollment projections rise: a projection of 53,000 enrollments would trigger an approximate $1.4 million withdrawal (additional appropriation) from the PSIF/appropriation reconciliation process under the per‑enrollment model. Tetrault said the agency’s budget was originally set using an estimated 49,680 enrollments.

Simmons said IDLA’s actual enrollments were closer to 52,000 at the time of testimony and that the program has seen strong growth in driver’s‑education enrollments and an elementary K–5 literacy program. He said IDLA provides online dual credit, credit recovery, advanced opportunities and courses not available locally; the program reported roughly 101 full‑time positions plus several hundred part‑time teachers and principals on its roster.

On fees: Simmons told the committee that IDLA has statutory authority to charge course fees (capped at $75) and that the board has a proposal before it to reduce the per‑course fee to $40 (a $35 reduction) for the coming year. He said the agency has also worked to remove some textbook fees via open education resources in at least one college‑level course.

Simmons described program measures: IDLA reports a final percentage grade to the student’s home school when classes complete and said the system targets a roughly 90% pass rate for courses (it reported 89% last year). For the K–5 literacy program, Simmons said the agency pairs Istation diagnostic software with a certified elementary teacher and that early data indicate reduced typical summer slide for participating students.

Why it matters: changing from a budget line appropriation to per‑enrollment funding ties IDLA’s total appropriation directly to how many courses and students the academy serves. The proposed fee reduction would reduce a small financial barrier for students but requires the board’s final approval and the agency to manage costs accordingly.","The Idaho Digital Learning Academy reported enrollment growth that would increase its appropriation under the new per‑enrollment funding formula and announced a board proposal to cut the course fee from $75 to $40 for next year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6300996,"Committee hears proposal for optional statewide student‑transportation routing software",164,826000,990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98&start=826&end=990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98/thumbnail_826000.jpg","/articles/6300996/Idaho/Committee-hears-proposal-for-optional-statewide-studenttransportation-routing-software","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300996-665b2117f1be7638fcf0d2c146148614/orig.mp4?Expires=1770830514&Signature=WWVcqX0Wsqqp9K~tbtOIFCxKDIj2-3LCJDqlSEiTq0vHMlMOnjWoUDuCDBAs~W-QmGX-46jTxXcPd5DkHbOqcwkBYyU8IMvRgJNpW29r117G18L6Wda8OwsKRqcMJMaH4N--2PW6SAZMgm-hFBB9J2FdqvDUgioM50wKEZv9l9W5WXVQ9RqBvqqI0Oc8Uy5lXJmXnkF0mbGtV4Fufp0rG~fy-Lr6JaUS8SILXlaU~yETY2MXyp3c5YP7LhyH2USPmHscGiJbkyopya8~WnigCGp0QqKwWt-B1CAZ3jmh0TbjQovQEVfCVOCsEtUWfp~BBCvuSJiAZVG9cd6wif-jdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on March 4 heard a proposal to fund a statewide contract for student‑transportation routing software that school districts could opt to use.

Superintendent (name variably recorded in transcript) said the optional statewide contract is intended to help districts produce more efficient bus routes, more accurate reporting of miles and ridership, and potential state savings. Gideon Tolman of the Department of Education said many smaller districts and charters currently lack routing software because it is cost‑prohibitive.

Committee members asked how many districts already use routing software and whether an RFP or RFI has been issued. Tolman said the department has investigated available products but has not issued an RFP; the request in the budget is contingent on legislative action. The superintendent confirmed the funding request is contingent on legislative approval in the budget.

Why it matters: transportation is a statutory distribution (Idaho Code §33‑1006 referenced in testimony) that moves dollars based on prior year actual expenditures and other formula allowances; more accurate routing and mileage reporting could affect distribution and state transportation payments. Committee members requested numbers on how many districts could use the software and how many already have routing solutions; staff said they would provide those counts on follow up.

The Department of Education described other proposed central‑services items on the public schools budget including professional learning communities, Idaho Reading Indicator adjustments and a data dashboard; the routing software was the largest single optional item discussed and would remain optional for districts.","The Department of Education and analysts described a request to contract for optional routing software districts could adopt to improve route efficiency and better align transportation payments to actual miles and ridership; the request is contingent on legislative action and an RFP has not yet been issued.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6301001,"JFAC hears statewide public school support budget as enrollment-based units fall",3950,70000,4020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98&start=70&end=4020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2490765-8150cb55b98b704c5fb1f42f195fdf98/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6301001/Idaho/JFAC-hears-statewide-public-school-support-budget-as-enrollment-based-units-fall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301001-23608dabcccba56942aa79bf1abdfe1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770830514&Signature=iG1c3Pax8Ak3RjlJjJeT99r42AEGxQCMJKHON~YgQaZRa3-Ret4sSREiPqPPb3YQFNHcUZaHI3rLCU6QzWSZFz-4eQAGpqee5vx~1RsCM~0od9MepsoDuWu1SKRZu~v9gj2KaqW~W77fLL4LZb1hmKsmWUDTYewMT2pZMuX8RNsXR4yxIl1ju5EnZnli0KeOhiffn73uAZqGY0mn1K2vzp0n782durI75nNOupijBcoV7NOB~r7S~uwMaA4NUrFuPJqowV~K6b5h-4Gjj9s211VTFs-qoRE6WPHEoQtwUesrRzKAcik0xo2RLjuA9QqOf3Qb5wVQA~yz3K~KKn~4CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jared Tetrault, deputy division manager with the Legislative Services Office Budget and Policy Analysis Division, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 4 that Idaho’s public school support program is seeing fewer \"support units\" even as overall dollar appropriations remain high.

Tetrault said the state funds public schools through statutory formulas in Idaho Code Title 33 and noted the program covers 115 local school districts and roughly 75 charter schools. He said the state funds 1.55 full‑time equivalent positions per support unit and that the average amount per support unit is about $147,000.

The change from enrollment-based to attendance-based counting, required under Idaho law, is one driver of fewer funded support units, Tetrault said. He explained that during the COVID period the hybrid counting method temporarily raised counts to roughly 98–99 percent of enrollment; reverting to attendance has produced statewide rates nearer 94–95 percent and thus fewer support units in the current year.

That decline in support units has pushed some dollar changes across budget lines: career ladder allocations, salary‑based apportionment for administrators and classified staff, discretionary funds, and pupil transportation all reflect population‑forecast adjustments, Tetrault said. He also described the Public Education Stabilization Fund (PSIF) as the reconciliation mechanism: under‑appropriations can draw from PSIF and over‑appropriations are deposited back.

Tetrault walked members through the budget “big sheet,” showing general fund, dedicated fund and federal fund totals. For the current year he listed roughly $2.7 billion in general fund appropriation for public schools, about $277 million in dedicated funds and about $260.6 million in federal funds. He said about $99.9 million in the current year remains the last of COVID/ARPA dollars in the public schools budget.

Committee members asked how support units can fall while enrollment is steady. Tetrault reiterated that the grade‑level divisors that define a support unit differ by elementary and secondary levels: the number of pupils needed to generate a unit changes as students move between grade bands. He also reiterated that health insurance funding is allocated per staff allowance rather than per full‑time employee, and that districts set actual salaries locally.

Superintendent (name in transcript variably recorded) expanded on use of federal ESSER funds and recent district practice. She said many districts used one‑time federal funding for personnel and that the state is now near the end of that funding stream; she said in fall 2023 she advised districts to plan for the federal funds’ end. She also described the school district facilities fund (House Bill 292) and the $1 billion maintenance allocation that districts may spend over up to 10 years under submitted plans.

Why it matters: the shift in counting method, the removal of one‑time federal funding, and statutory distribution formulas can change how much money flows to districts even when student headcount is similar. The committee will decide appropriation levels and whether to treat newly continuous funds differently in future budgets.

Tetrault and the superintendent provided follow‑up offers to supply district‑level breakdowns of facility distributions, counts of employees covered by the state health plan, and a more detailed breakdown of federal versus local revenue in district budgets.","Legislative analysts and the state superintendent told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that changes in how student counts are measured, the end of federal COVID funding and statutory formula mechanics are driving a drop in support units even as total appropriations remain large.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Services for deaf and blind see rising enrollments; agency requests staff and campus capacity growth

IDLA growth prompts per‑enrollment funding change and proposed course‑fee cut

Committee hears proposal for optional statewide student‑transportation routing software

JFAC hears statewide public school support budget as enrollment-based units fall