JFAC advances multiple K–12 budget items, approves transportation pilot and several supplemental requests

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee (JFAC) considered and voted on a package of K–12 budget adjustments and supplemental requests during its session. Committee members approved adjustments that include targeted compensation for hard‑to‑fill positions, enrollment and population forecast updates across several divisions, a one‑time student transportation routing pilot and a supplemental appropriation to reconcile federal grant shortfalls.

The committee approved a motion to add $504,900 in FY2026 for the Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind to fund career‑ladder equivalencies, recruitment and retention pay, an additional early‑childhood outreach administrator, a Region 4 consulting teacher, and an endowment adjustment. Representative Miller, who moved the motion, urged support noting the difficulty of recruiting instructors in this field. The motion passed with the committee reporting a combined vote of 19 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent/excused.

JFAC also approved a $1,630,500 increase in FY2026 for the public school support program (teachers division) to cover a population forecast adjustment and career‑ladder placement and movement costs. The motion carried unanimously as recorded during the committee roll call.

A $9.5 million supplemental request for the public school support student support division — intended to cover federal…